《Nightmare at Dawn - Series 1: The Night of Hunting Games》


 1 The Mysterious Night Sky

    In a distant village nestled among the mountains£¬ tonight''s moonlight softly blankets the earth£¬ brightening the path and fields ahead for the boy to see clearly. Every little detail becomes apparent£¬ a scene unimaginable to children raised in big cities.


    On a small hill£¬ quietness fills the air£¬ offering a peaceful view of the mountains and rivers stretching into the distance.


    The boy£¬ A-Lai£¬ looked up£¬ and the vast starry sky stretched out like a beautiful painting. The Milky Way shimmered like a bright ribbon£¬ cutting through the calm night.


    The usual owl hoots and frog croaks fell silent. Even the rustling leaves seemed to pause£¬ recognizing the significance of this moment. A-Lai narrowed his eyes£¬ his thoughts racing.


    ¡°This isn''t normal£¬¡° he murmured£¬ looking around. He seemed to be the only living creature in a still picture.


    Suddenly£¬ far in the starry sky£¬ some stars began twinkling faster. This caught the boy''s attention. They shone brighter and brighter£¬ increasing in frequency. Then£¬ the stars began to move£¬ as if an invisible magnet were attracting them closer together.


    A-Lai rubbed his eyes£¬ trying to convince himself he wasn''t imagining things. His excitement grew as he watched the stars align into a simple triangle. Then£¬ more stars shifted into place£¬ forming a perfect pentagram.


    His mind raced£¬ a thrilling blend of excitement and wonder.


    ¡°Oh£¬ there are more stars coming!¡° A-Lai couldn''t stop talking to himself.¡°Oh£¬ it''s a boat. No£¬ a sailboat. Whoa£¬ it''s getting bigger and bigger!¡°


    Just a moment later£¬ it had morphed into a space cruise ship the size of the distant moon. A-Lai''s excitement grew as the ship seemed to sail through him£¬ on an ocean of stars.


    ¡°Is it coming for me? Will it carry me up to heaven? I haven¡¯t yet joined the school bonfire party!¡± He couldn¡¯t stop the onslaught of thoughts racing through his mind.


    But then his mouth dropped open in silent terror. A colossal warship loomed£¬ towering like a menacing mountain£¬ its massive shadow creeping closer with each slow£¬ deliberate movement.


    He had once stood at the base of a mountain£¬ yet he had never experienced pressure like this. It was like an ant confronting a colossal elephant£¬ poised to crush him under its massive foot.


    A-Lai clenched his fists subconsciously as it drew closer and closer.


    All at once£¬ the warship transformed into a giant skeletal figure£¬ resembling an ancient Japanese samurai seated on a stool£¬ staring intently at a map of enemy territory. A-Lai was so terrified that he imagined the skeletal samurai might draw his katana and slice the earth in half at any moment.


    Although this transformation occurred in less than a minute£¬ time seemed to stand still as the giant rose and took a step forward.


    A-Lai''s body swayed as the ground trembled beneath him. Not only him£¬ villagers a mile away felt the tremor.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Earthquake!¡± the villagers cry out in alarm£¬ their voices echoing through the night as they flee their homes in panic.


    A-Lai covered his eyes; this was too much for a young boy to handle. Slowly£¬ he began to hear the sound of the wind rustling through the trees again. The familiar croaking of frogs reached his ears£¬ grounding him in the present.


    When A-Lai cautiously looked up again£¬ the stars in the night sky were back to their usual positions£¬ twinkling serenely as if nothing had happened. The boy felt as though he had just woken from a dream¡ªsomething both real and illusory. But as he ran toward the school£¬ his heart still pounding from the extraordinary vision£¬ a thought clawed its way into his mind: Why did it feel like it was watching me? He glanced over his shoulder at the quiet night£¬ the unease lingering like a shadow.


    Far above£¬ a shadowy figure in the stealth aircraft kept his gaze locked on the boy¡¯s faint silhouette£¬ his expression unreadable.¡°He saw something£¬¡° the figure murmured£¬ more to himself than the mechanical voice.¡°It begins.¡°


    And just like that£¬ the night carried on£¬ silent and unknowing¡ªexcept for one boy£¬ whose life would never quite return to the ordinary.


    ------


    Meanwhile£¬ high above the earth£¬ a shadowy figure watches from the confines of a stealth aircraft£¬ his eyes narrowed in contemplation. He gazes upon the earth£¬ his heart filled with disgust and regret.


    ¡°This beautiful ''blue eye'' is on the brink of destruction by those greedy beings.¡°


    ¡°Xerospore-42 has been released into the designated experimental zone as planned¡°£¬ his voice echoes through the aircraft£¬ its tone cold and detached.


    Below£¬ countless spherical aircrafts descended slowly£¬ as if peering into the dark land below. Xerospore-42 fell from the aircraft£¬ small spores dancing in the air before landing on the ground£¬ like eerie signs in the dark£¬ surrounded by mystery.


    All of a sudden£¬ a huge shake in space almost blew the aircraft''s disguise.¡°What was that? Commander£¬ did you see that?¡° he shouted£¬ panic edging his voice.


    A mechanical voice responded calmly£¬¡°What happened?¡°


    ¡°I saw a huge alien warship crossing over the earth. Did you get any reports? We can''t have another incident like last time!¡± His voice was edged with urgency£¬ eyes wide with the memory of past chaos.


    The mechanical voice responded with a hint of exasperation£¬¡°Not that I know of. No reports of any alien activity in this sector. Did you fall asleep on the job again?¡± The question was punctuated with a dry£¬ mocking tone.


    The shaddow clenched his fists£¬¡°You know damn well I¡¯m always vigilant. This isn¡¯t something you can just brush off!¡±


    ¡°Calm down£¬¡± the mechanical voice replied£¬ its tone shifting to a more serious note.¡°If there¡¯s really a warship out there£¬ we need to verify it first before jumping to conclusions.¡±


    ¡°These aliens£¬ they never bring any good in space£¬¡° he muttered£¬ frustration and anger evident in his tone.


    ¡°Every time they show up£¬ it''s chaos. I can''t stand them.¡° Shaking his head£¬ he went back to his work£¬ trying to steady his nerves.


    The mechanical voice spoke in a low£¬ almost conspiratorial tone£¬¡°Hey buddy£¬ how long have you been on Earth?¡°


    ¡°Six Earth months. So what?¡° he replied£¬ irritation creeping into his voice.


    ¡°Did you forget that we are aliens to them£¬ too?¡° the mechanical voice reminded him gently.


    ¡°Oh£¬ sh...£¬ surprised me! I almost forgot£¬¡° he muttered£¬ a sheepish grin spreading across his face as he rubbed the back of his neck£¬ the tension easing slightly.


    ¡°Go back to work and focus!¡° The mechanical voice£¬ clearly of higher rank in their team£¬ commanded with authority.


    The Shadow watched back as spores drifted down like black snowflakes. His heart raced with excitement as he shouted£¬¡°The great hunting game begins£¬ now is the¡ª¡°


    Before he could finish£¬ the familiar voice from across him cut through£¬ cold and resolute as a winter''s gale£¬¡°How many times must I tell you? You face mere ants; they are unworthy of being our adversaries.


    Our clients have no interest in hunting such fragile prey.


    If£¬ in ten more years£¬ they have not been eradicated£¬ I shall arrange the hunting game myself.


    Your task is to observe carefully£¬ to act not rashly. Do you copy?¡°


    The Shadow bowed his head in reluctant acceptance£¬ his voice tinged with a hint of disappointment£¬¡°Yes£¬ I understand. I will continue to monitor until there is no longer any sign of life below.¡°

 2

    In the morning before everything started£¬ A-Lai sat quietly in a cozy wooden physics classroom. Sunlight streamed through large windows£¬ casting a golden glow. Colorful paper flowers on the wall celebrated the New Year£¬ symbolizing good luck and happiness.


    At the front£¬ a blackboard displayed neatly written physics notes£¬ highlighted in different colors by the teacher£¬ who stood there in a gray suit£¬ his southern twang adding a unique flavor to the lesson.


    The podium in front£¬ crafted by the principal himself using several logs£¬ was tailored to his own height. Hence£¬ for today''s physics class£¬ the teacher brought along a 20-centimeter-high footstool£¬ reassuring himself internally. After all£¬ he reasoned£¬ folks with towering statures might just have underdeveloped brain capacities; he forgave them silently.


    As the teacher carefully placing his foot on the stool£¬ a mischievous student couldn''t suppress a quiet laugh. The physics teacher£¬ stroking his beard and widening his eyes£¬ noticed a group of fellow teachers at the back of the classroom£¬ also attending the lecture. He had no choice but to continue with his intricate theories of physics.


    ¡°Class£¬ today we''re delving into the vastness of the universe. Imagine standing on an endless beach£¬ each grain of sand a galaxy. There are billions of galaxies£¬ each with billions of stars. Some might even have planets like Earth.¡°


    ¡°Sir£¬ are you suggesting that aliens exist?¡° a cheeky student asked.


    ¡°Indeed. The existence of extraterrestrial life is as normal as the variety of plants in a forest. It would be abnormal if a forest had only one tree!¡°


    ¡°So why can''t I see aliens then?¡°


    ¡°As the universe expands£¬ it creates many branches£¬ each representing an independent parallel universe that might exist beyond our comprehension.


    It''s like why earthworms in the soil rarely encounter eagles in the sky£¬ and why the Mariana snailfish living at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean will never see an rabbit in its lifetime.¡°


    ¡°Sir£¬ are you saying we''re just sheltered mountain kids?¡°


    ¡°Ah£¬ that''s not quite accurate!¡° the physics teacher waved his head£¬¡°How come you can still use a question?¡°


    ¡°Well£¬ just a joke. We are all sheltered kids.


    To those living in District 19£¬ we''re country folks who haven''t seen the world. And to those in the imperial capital£¬ the people from District 19 are also country kids. And to visitors from advanced star systems in the universe£¬ we Earthlings are the children who haven''t seen the world.¡°


    Outside the classroom£¬ nature was blossoming. Small£¬ fresh buds swayed gently in the breeze£¬ signaling the arrival of spring with their graceful movement.


    A pretty oriole bird sat up high on a branch£¬ its thin neck reaching out as it sang a song that perfectly matched the season. Its tune was made up of clear notes that floated through the air£¬ adding a cheerful touch to the gentle spring breeze with its music.


    Indoors£¬ a boy on the verge of his teenage years was completely captivated by the show outside. His eyes tracked the movement of the branches£¬ the sunlight filtering through the leaves in a captivating play of light and shadow.


    Unconsciously£¬ he narrowed his eyes£¬ not only watching but feeling the vibrant beauty of nature''s painting. The sharp scent of soil and grass£¬ ensnared his senses. His heart seemed to dance with the rhythm of nature£¬ beating in harmony with the earth.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    From the desk next to him£¬ a pair of young£¬ pretty eyes looked at the boy. They were full of liking and fun.To her£¬ branches were just branches£¬ and sunlight was just part of the day. Yet£¬ she smiled at his wonder£¬ seeing the world through his eyes¡ªa place where simple things spun into extraordinary stories.


    Outside the window£¬ the view enchanted the boy£¬ turning him into a captivating sight for onlookers. The bright eyes beside him£¬ gazing at his figure£¬ formed a gentle arc£¬ as if spellbound by his presence.


    During this sensory experience£¬ a soft touch on his arm brought him back to reality. The boy realized that the school principal was sitting next to him in class£¬ which made him blush with embarrassment.


    The principal was a strong£¬ middle-aged man with a commanding presence. His glasses hinted at his wisdom. Unlike other teachers£¬ he was physically strong£¬ able to lift a heavy basket with ease.


    Wrapped in a crisp linen robe£¬ the principal stood as a beacon of simplicity and purity. To someone just passing by£¬ he might seem like just another face in the village crowd£¬ but to the locals£¬ he was a legend. Despite his simple appearance£¬ he earned deep respect¡ªa quiet symbol of a lifetime spent helping others.


    The principal''s interests went beyond just literature; sometimes he delved into history and geography. With his wealth of travel experiences£¬ he spun stories that captivated the children£¬ inspiring dreams of distant lands beyond their simple village.


    He leaned in towards the boy and asked in a gentle voice£¬¡°A-Lai£¬ do you understand what he''s saying?¡° He had memorized the names of every student in the school£¬ a sign of his strong commitment.


    His voice was kind and fatherly£¬ expressing care and love with every word. In reply£¬ the boy gave a slightly hesitant smile£¬ confessing£¬¡°Mr. Zhang£¬ I don''t really get it£¬ but I really want to explore other worlds.¡°


    The principal smiled gently and said£¬¡°Hmm£¬ I''m on the same boat. Oh£¬ by the way£¬ come to my office tomorrow; a special guest wants to meet you.¡°


    When the principal saw A-Lai''s puzzled expression£¬ he didn''t explain£¬ simply saying£¬¡°You''ll understand tomorrow.¡°


    He gently turned his head and lightly nudged the girl at the adjacent desk with his right elbow£¬ signaling her to look forward and focus on the lesson. A faint smile played at the corner of the principal''s mouth£¬ as memories of his own blissful moments from his student days flooded his mind.


    -----------------


    Outside the classroom£¬ a quiet music played as icicles under the roof edges melted in the soft wind. They turned into drops that fell in a gentle rhythm£¬ like a song from far away£¬ wetting the ground below.


    The clear sound of a bell signaled the end of the class¡ªding ding ding¡ªsetting the students free to enjoy the sunlit afternoon. The children dispersed to their homes£¬ prepared to help their families with farming tasks like plowing and tilling the soil.


    As dusk settled£¬ the village homes£¬ usually filled with the clatter of family dinners£¬ were alive with a different kind of buzz. People were trying on new£¬ colorful outfits£¬ their excitement palpable.


    The air was filled with the aroma of tasty food£¬ and chatter about tonight¡¯s school bonfire party was everywhere. No one expected that a sudden disaster would soon turn the event into a lasting goodbye for many villagers.


    The annual bonfire party£¬ a lively and grand event£¬ is spontaneously ignited by the energetic community. On this enchanting evening£¬ the villagers cast off the year''s fatigue£¬ dressed in their newest finery£¬ and gathered around the school''s blazing bonfire. Accompanied by their children£¬ neighbors£¬ and kin£¬ they sang into the night£¬ danced around the flames£¬ and celebrated under the canopy of stars.


    Parents beamed with pride£¬ witnessing their children showcase the knowledge they had accumulated throughout the year£¬ sharing both food and the abundance of the harvest season.


    As the moon ascended£¬ A-Lai couldn''t contain his excitement£¬ bursting out of his small house. Along the village dirt road£¬ neighbors called out£¬ curious about his urgency.


    ¡°Hey£¬ A-Lai£¬ where''s the fire? The bonfire party won''t start until midnight!¡°


    Response with a smile£¬ A-Lai raced through the village like a gust of wind£¬ as if an endless source of energy powered his eager steps.


    The whispers of villagers and children lingered in the evening breeze.


    ¡°No wonder£¬ I¡¯m getting a bit impatient too.¡±


    ¡°Mom£¬ the aroma is irresistible. Can''t we have something delicious now?¡°


    ¡°Patience£¬ dear; tonight is the night for feasting!¡°


    ¡°Hi£¬ Dick£¬ any guesses on who the belle of the ball will be tonight?¡°


    ¡°I have no clue£¬ but I''ll muster the courage to invite her to dance.¡°


    ¡°With your charm£¬ you wish!¡°


    ¡°Hahaha¡­¡°


    The village was filled with joy and excitement as the time for the bonfire party approached.

 3

    A countdown appeared on the screen£¬ and Caron watched with satisfaction as the stakes climbed. In just one hour£¬ the number of viewers had already surpassed that of any single day from the previous quarter.


    ¡°This is a great start£¬¡° he narrated excitedly to the screen.¡°I can hardly wait either. The countdown has begun! The area£¬ outlined by this ready-made campus£¬ will be the stage for midnight''s slaughter starting in thirty minutes.¡°


    Some had once believed that highly advanced extraterrestrial civilizations would abandon the crude habits of Earthlings£¬ but they quickly realized their naivety. The universe was just a bigger jungle£¬ where the law of the jungle still reigned supreme. The faces behind the screens£¬ unimaginable to Earthlings£¬ were already eagerly searching for information about the Earth natives to decide on their bets.


    A woman£¬ indistinguishable in age between fifteen and thirty-five with heavy makeup£¬ chirped excitedly£¬¡°Finally£¬ another hunting game! It''s been so long since the last game was restricted to remote planets. This is going to be so thrilling!¡° Another woman''s head£¬ almost identical but growing from her shoulder£¬ chimed in£¬¡°I''m so bored! I hope to win big this time!¡°


    A portly recluse with an elephant-like trunk was sucking whisky from the table and deeply inhaling cigarette smoke through his nostrils while his fingers danced across the keyboard. His large screens displayed one vedio after another.


    In some vedios£¬ the view was from above the jungle surrounding the school£¬ the dense forest appearing like a black cloud enveloping a small clearing. The paths formed by villagers'' footprints wove through the forest like a spider''s web£¬ leading to the central school£¬ silently waiting to ensnare unsuspecting prey.


    As the surveillance drones zoomed in£¬ the image rapidly focused on two red dots: a father and son.


    ¡°Dad£¬ I''m scared. Can we take the main road?¡° a young£¬ trembling voice asked.


    ¡°What''s there to fear? Look£¬ many of our neighbors are ahead. There''s your Grandpa Zhao£¬ Uncle Li£¬ and lots of your friends too. What are you afraid of? If we walk quickly£¬ we can catch up with them!¡° the father reassured.


    ¡°But Dad£¬ I''m still scared.¡°


    ¡°Really£¬ son? Alright£¬ alright£¬ we''ll take the main road£¬ but we might miss out on a lot of good food!¡°


    ¡°Hmm? Dad£¬ I''ve changed my mind. I''m a big boy now£¬ and I should be brave£¬ just like you always tell me!¡°


    As they walked along the dark path£¬ the boy watched the villagers'' shadows melt into the forest and disappear£¬ as if swallowed by the gaping maw of a silent beast. He quickly stopped peering around and focused on the path£¬ clutching tightly to the corner of his father¡¯s clothes. The branches on either side of the road twisted in the wind like ghosts of night wanderers. They stretched out and waved£¬ as if trying to grab each passerby.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Another image showed a villager hurrying along another path£¬ head lowered and casting wary glances around. He heard the rustling of leaves in the darkness£¬ whispering suspenseful tales. At the end of his road£¬ the flickering glow of a campfire danced among the trees£¬ casting an eerie light that brought the branches to life.


    He quickened his pace£¬ shaking off wild imaginings. His heart was filled with anticipation of seeing that young girl again tonight. Her smile£¬ her laughter¡ªfilled his mind£¬ driving him forward with eager hope.


    Suddenly£¬ he felt a light touch on his shoulder.


    ¡°Don''t mess around£¬ girl. I saw your husband ahead!¡°


    The villager turned his head and was about to speak when a pair of red eyes flashed in the darkness£¬ and sharp teeth sank into his throat.


    ¡°Ah£¬ oh£¬ glug...¡°


    He wanted to cry out£¬ but it all turned into strange gurgling sounds as blood spurted from his neck. He tried to run£¬ but his shoulder felt as if it was hooked in place£¬ the slightest movement causing excruciating pain.


    Blood sprayed as his consciousness blurred. In his daze£¬ he saw his intestines being pulled out£¬ the crunching sound of them being chewed echoing in the darkness.


    The sharp teeth had sunk deep into his throat£¬ silencing his breath. Life flickered out with his terrified heartbeat.


    In his final moments£¬ he thought£¬¡°What kind of creature is this? A dark demon? I''ve never seen anything like it!¡°


    The ground turned red£¬ and as he lost consciousness£¬ he watched part of himself disappear into the darkness.


    The events in the forest made the recluse sneer£¬¡°Such weak natives. I won''t bet too much on them!¡° With his silent commentary£¬ the surveillance drone quickly flew in another direction within the dense forest.


    -----------------


    In the dark woods£¬ the night wind rustled the leaves like quiet whispers. The air was thick with the smell of decay£¬ making it hard to breathe. Occasionally£¬ strange animal calls echoed from afar£¬ sending chills down A-Lai''s spine. Every step he took brought him closer to a nameless fear. He felt a cold gaze following him£¬ a shadow moving with him£¬ impossible to shake off. Each step made faint noises on the fallen leaves and twigs£¬ as if the ground whispered secrets hidden below.


    He suddenly stopped£¬ ears straining to catch any sound from behind. The boy¡¯s big eyes widened£¬ shining like dark gems. The leaves at his feet trembled slightly£¬ pushed by an unseen force. His heartbeat quickened£¬ as if an invisible hand was pounding on his chest.


    Suddenly£¬ a sharp crack from the bushes behind made his nerves tauten once more. He spun around and shouted£¬


    ¡°Who''s there?¡°


    Only the swaying branches responded. He took a deep breath. His heartbeat echoed in the silence like a ticking clock£¬ reminding him of the approaching danger.


    A-Lai''s gaze roamed the darkness. Every shadow seemed to twist and contort£¬ ready to turn into a monster. He decided to run toward the campfire''s light£¬ his only hope.


    Suddenly£¬ a shadow leapt from the bushes. Its eyes glowed green£¬ lunging at him like a witch with outstretched arms. A-Lai jumped back£¬ crossing his arms to protect his face. Pain shot through his forearm as the shadow''s claws scratched him. Then£¬ it flew away£¬ flapping its wings.


    ¡°Whoo£¬ whoo£¬¡° an owl''s soft call followed.


    A-Lai breathed a sigh of relief; it was just a night-hunting owl. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead£¬ pulled himself together£¬ and ran towards the campfire. The flickering light became his sole guide in the oppressive darkness.


    Finally£¬ A-Lai approached the campfire£¬ now less than a hundred meters away. He felt a wave of relief wash over him. Overhead£¬ a surveillance drone silently ascended£¬ merging into the giant invisible mothership.

 4

    The night enveloped the scene£¬ the glow of the campfire flickering sporadically. A-Lai dashed toward the firelight. Branches on the roadside twisted in the wind£¬ like the spectral hands of nocturnal phantoms£¬ their claws reaching out like those of ravenous demons£¬ chasing after A-Lai''s footsteps. It seemed as if they were about to grab him£¬ but always missed by a fraction.


    A-Lai felt something trip him£¬ and he stumbled£¬ pain instantly shooting through his foot. He clenched his teeth£¬ stifling a cry£¬ not daring to stop£¬ and resumed running.¡°Rip£¬¡° a sharp sound echoed£¬ followed by searing pain in his arm. He glanced at his arm and saw that a branch had torn through his sleeve and slashed his skin£¬ leaving a bleeding wound. He felt a surge of frustration£¬ knowing he would have to mend his clothes again.


    Hastily rolling up his sleeve£¬ he sprinted into the school. The campfire''s glow cast warm£¬ cheerful light on everyone''s faces. Surrounded by familiar faces and classmates£¬ A-Lai felt like he was in a safe haeven. The scent of roasted marshmallows and laughter filled the air£¬ making the night feel magical.


    In the darkness behind him£¬ an old tree trapped two huge£¬ furry wolves. Its thick branches moved like they were alive£¬ twisting the wolves¡¯ bodies until they were bent and whimpering in pain. In the patchy moonlight£¬ the tree¡¯s strong trunk showed the faint outline of a monk meditating£¬ as if doing some ancient ritual. This shadow was deeply carved into the tree¡¯s bark£¬ giving off a mysterious and eerie feeling.


    A chill ran down A-Lai¡¯s spine as he looked back. He knew this wasn¡¯t just an accident but something strange and powerful at work. Taking a deep breath£¬ he forced himself to ignore it and rejoin the warmth of the campfire£¬ though he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.


    -----------------


    ¡°Hey£¬ A-Lai£¬ there you are! Did you get lost in the jungle?¡° called out a big kid£¬ his tone a mix of teasing and excitement. A-Lai smiled and nodded£¬ recognizing his friend£¬ Barney. He playfully patted Barney''s shoulder£¬ saying£¬¡°Barney£¬ you''re always stealing my favorite marshmallows!¡°


    ¡°I got held up on the way£¬¡° he replied£¬ his ordeal in the darkness already forgotten as he joined the circle around the bonfire.


    ¡°A-Lai£¬ don''t forget your kung fu performance. It starts at nine tonight£¬¡° said the principal£¬ smiling£¬ a hint of expectation in his eyes as he habitually stroked his greying beard£¬ a sign of his excitement or nervousness.


    ¡°Principal Zhang£¬ can''t I skip the performance?¡° A-Lai was never one to show off£¬ especially not in front of his classmates. He made one last attempt to get out of it.


    ¡°Go and get ready. You''re one of the few who know kung fu around here. Do you want me to talk to your master?¡°The principal smiled to himself£¬ thinking£¬¡°Young man£¬ humility is a good thing£¬ but you will need some wonderful memories in your future life.¡°


    ¡°No£¬ no£¬ I''ll go!¡° A-Lai''s master was not a man to argue with. Performing was the better option. Several classmates stifled their laughter£¬ their faces flushed in the firelight.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    The strumming of a guitar added to the flickering firelight£¬ creating a harmonious atmosphere£¬ like a cozy blanket enveloping everyone. The firelight danced on their faces£¬ highlighting their joy and camaraderie.


    ¡°In the moonlight£¬ the stars in the sky£¬


    We gather on the playground£¬ the night comes alive.


    Laughter fills the air£¬ echoing so sweet£¬


    Dancing on the blacktop£¬ moving our feet.


    Oh£¬ summer night£¬ playground delight£¬


    Memories we make£¬ under the silver light.


    Surrounded by friends£¬ joy and cheer£¬


    We''ll cherish these moments£¬ as the years draw near.¡°


    Nearby£¬ villagers gathered comfortably£¬ while the principal occasionally added more wood to keep the bonfire burning brightly.


    ¡°Principal£¬ how''s my kid doing lately?¡°


    ¡°Your child is doing well!¡°


    ¡°Principal£¬ don¡¯t be polite. If I don¡¯t discipline them for more than three days at home£¬ they¡¯ll end up playing party on the roof!¡±


    The principal laughed and responded£¬¡°Then you should ask them to bring a ladder to school.¡±


    The villager looked puzzled£¬ and the principal continued with a laugh£¬¡°That way£¬ they can easily go to high school!¡±


    Just then£¬ a few children playing tag accidentally bumped into the principal. He quickly steadied them£¬ checking if they were hurt. The children laughed loudly but stood at attention£¬ bowing respectfully upon seeing it was the principal. The others followed suit.


    ¡°Go on£¬ be careful and don''t get hurt.¡°


    The children laughed happily and ran off. The principal smiled£¬ watching them£¬ the firelight casting a red glow on his face£¬ highlighting the towering school behind him. The building£¬ a four-story structure with an impressive wooden framework and intricate eaves£¬ was the grandest within a hundred miles. It was built over nearly a decade by villagers during their off-season£¬ continuously expanding.


    The principal£¬ an outsider who had wandered here a decade ago£¬ had voluntarily started teaching the children literature and history. The school''s fame and size grew£¬ attracting more students and teachers. Merchants passing by were amazed at the school£¬ remarking that in neighboring towns£¬ such grand buildings were reserved for officials£¬ but the principal only smiled faintly in response.


    Years passed£¬ and the merchants noticed that while the village prospered£¬ the neighboring country suffered from internal strife and power struggles.


    A-Lai sprinted to the school''s back garden£¬ where the moonlight caressed the delicate forsythia flowers£¬ their tiny blooms resembling stars£¬ emitting a faint yellow glow. The petals swayed gently£¬ like elves in the breeze£¬ releasing a fresh fragrance that pierced the night''s silence. A-Lai paused£¬ bending down to inhale deeply£¬ then ran around the building before entering the school''s main hall.


    The school was pitch black; no lights were lit tonight£¬ save for the bonfire in the front courtyard. The firelight cast huge shadows that danced on the school walls. In the dark corridors£¬ a few young figures played hide and seek£¬ sometimes darting quickly£¬ sometimes blending into the darkness.


    The boys let loose this night£¬ indulging in games usually not encouraged at school. The night''s freedom erased the school''s rules£¬ giving them space to play. Laughter and whispers mingled in the dark£¬ their excitement growing as the game continued. The bonfire''s glow filtered through the windows£¬ casting faint golden patches on the corridor floor£¬ adding a touch of magic to the scene.


    ¡°Hey£¬ want to join us?¡° a distant figure called out to A-Lai. He waved back£¬ enviously eyeing the older students he didn''t know well£¬ then decided to find his own friends.


    Whispers drifted from afar£¬ like the wind brushing past the ancient wooden buildings.


    ¡°Is he really not coming?¡°


    ¡°No£¬ he''s already inside the classroom.¡°


    ¡°Should I just go in and take care of him?¡°


    ¡°Be careful£¬ don''t make too much noise!¡° With that£¬ a shadow moved stealthily along the corridor walls£¬ lit by the flickering firelight£¬ making its way toward A-Lai''s classroom. At the end of the dark corridor£¬ two high school students lay unconscious. It seems tonight will not be peaceful. Not only outside the school£¬ but also inside£¬ danger lurks everywhere.

 5

    ¡°Greetings£¬ my dear bros! Welcome to an all-new hunting game!¡° Caron''s voice crackled with barely suppressed excitement.¡°Today''s target is a native village on this blue-eyed planet. Let''s see if these villagers can escape the hunters'' pursuit!¡° Inside the mothership£¬ Caron slowly activated the holographic projection£¬ streaming the live hunt to his audience.


    Caron was a professional livestream hunter£¬ and this was his first attempt at such an extreme show. His emotions were a mix of nervousness and exhilaration. Previous shows had failed to attract many viewers£¬ partly due to his inexperience£¬ but mainly because of their simplicity and monotony. To make a mark in the streaming world£¬ he decided to take a risk by choosing this primitive planet for his latest and most thrilling hunting broadcast.


    ¡°Tonight£¬ we won''t deploy hunters above level two£¬ and the natives include villagers£¬ students£¬ and teachers£¬¡° Caron said£¬ watching the viewer count climb. He knew only continuous excitement and danger would keep the audience hooked.¡°How long can these unarmed natives withstand the hunters'' onslaught?¡° Despite his outward confidence£¬ a sliver of unease gnawed at him. Such a bloody spectacle might lead to the platform banning his show£¬ risking his career.


    ¡°The first stage of the hunt begins in ten minutes. Level one hunters are in position£¬ and 304 targets have entered the designated area. If anyone wants to assess the natives'' capabilities or see the hunters in action£¬ now is the time. Once the three bells ring£¬ the 60-minute countdown starts!¡° He declared coldly£¬¡°After 60 minutes£¬ the hunters will withdraw£¬ and we''ll count the survivors. Will the natives£¬ armed only with rudimentary weapons£¬ prevail£¬ or will the hunters slaughter them all? We''ll find out soon enough!¡°


    The number of viewers skyrocketed£¬ with comments flooding the screen. Some predicted how quickly the hunters would kill their prey£¬ while others discussed possible escape strategies or estimated the number of survivors. Seeing these comments£¬ Caron''s excitement began to overshadow his apprehension. He knew such a show could truly captivate the audience.


    ¡°Now£¬ if any betting companies wish to seize this unique opportunity£¬ just share the profits with me£¬ and I''ll guarantee you the highest returns£¬¡° Caron mused about taking his show to the next level.


    ¡°This is the perfect betting game£¬ and those who bet on the correct number of survivors will win big!¡° Caron''s voice was full of allure.


    ¡°I doubt there will be more than ten survivors! The closer you guess to the correct number£¬ the more you earn. Of course£¬ you can also bet on the hunters'' failure. Some hunters are genetically modified native beasts£¬ and we can''t guarantee their strength. We also have high-tech combat machines. I can''t promise you''ll win money£¬ but I can promise you''ll have a night of revelry!¡°


    Caron''s voice echoed through the craft£¬ with a hint of cruelty. In the dark corners of the universe£¬ greedy£¬ excited£¬ and disgusted eyes focused on the screen. Sebastian£¬ Caron''s boss and a shareholder in a betting company£¬ had never been interested in this minor program. However£¬ tonight£¬ as he noticed the viewer count climbing rapidly£¬ his curiosity was piqued.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Sebastian didn''t care for the lavish lifestyle of typical executives; his greatest pleasure was watching his wealth grow. With a flick of his finger£¬ a massive three-dimensional live projection filled his study. Such a large 3D projection was both his hobby and a symbol of his status and power. Before making decisions£¬ he habitually assessed the strength disparity£¬ a practice that tested his keen eye.


    ---


    In the dark depths of the forest£¬ a lone wolf stood out among its peers. It was significantly larger£¬ its yellow eyes reflecting a human-like expression of concern as they pierced through the surrounding darkness and dense underbrush£¬ gazing toward the school. These eyes not only shone with a unique brilliance but also carried a sense of pride and wisdom.


    As the night deepened£¬ a barely visible black spore mist enveloped the creature. Its gaze began to waver£¬ and a strange fury and wildness surged within. It shook its head violently£¬ as if trying to rid itself of an annoying buzzing£¬ like a demon whispering in its ear£¬¡°Kill them£¬ leave them here forever!¡° Anger filled its heart£¬ and its eyes burned with an intensity that even the smallest spark could ignite.


    Meanwhile£¬ at the forest''s edge£¬ two unsuspecting villagers approached the lurking danger. The two£¬ Darek and Dylan£¬ were brothers£¬ part of a family of four. They were seasoned hunters who had captured countless beasts in the forest where they grew up. Knowing every hunting trail and hidden trap£¬ encountering a wild wolf was a first for them.


    Darek£¬ the elder brother£¬ bore a long scar from a bear fight£¬ which he wore as a badge of honor. He was a cautious and strategic man£¬ always observing before acting and never taking unnecessary risks. Each hunt was meticulously planned. His deep£¬ authoritative voice cautioned£¬¡°Be careful. Don''t startle them. We need to retreat slowly.¡°


    Dylan£¬ the younger brother£¬ was known for his agility and precise archery. Though impulsive£¬ he was full of youthful courage and enthusiasm. His lighter tone suggested£¬¡°Bro£¬ why don''t we just take them down? We''ve faced beasts before.¡°


    Their broad shoulders and light steps made them move like well-trained warriors. Dylan carried a large clay pot emitting the enticing aroma of stew.


    ¡°Bro£¬ we should have brought some wine!¡°


    ¡°No rush£¬ the village brewmaster will surely bring some fine wine later. We just need to find him.¡°


    ¡°You''re right£¬ as always£¬ bro!¡°


    Suddenly£¬ Darek heard a soft growl and noticed green eyes surrounding them.


    ¡°Damn£¬ wolves£¬ wild wolves!¡° Darek quickly halted his excited brother.


    ¡°What? Wolves?¡° Dylan''s heart sank at the low growls. Memories of countless beast battles flashed in his mind£¬ his palms sweating with tension. But he took a deep breath£¬ forcing himself to stay calm.


    ¡°Don''t panic. As long as we don''t run£¬ they won''t attack first.¡°


    Dylan nodded£¬ trying to remain calm. His eyes scanned the darkness for any threats£¬ his hand on his quiver.


    They crouched silently£¬ breaking branches from nearby bushes£¬ each as thick as a thumb. Darek gripped a branch£¬ feeling its rough surface and hard texture£¬ mentally reviewing past wolf-hunting experiences. Dylan£¬ sweating but motionless£¬ kept a close watch on the darkness. They stood back-to-back£¬ ready to defend themselves£¬ even placing the clay pot between them£¬ thinking of the feast ahead.


    With a menacing growl£¬ an impatient terror wolf lunged.

 6

    Far from this eerie place£¬ the school was filled with laughter and joy. Unaware of the terror in the forest£¬ the villagers enjoyed a delightful time. Children''s laughter and adults'' cheerful conversations drowned out the faint cries for help in the distance.


    The principal found himself surrounded by a group of children and village women.¡°Principal£¬ tell us another story!¡° the children clamored.


    Principal Zhang used to be the only educated person in the village. He loved telling stories to the children because he believed that stories could not only entertain them but also impart wisdom. His white hair and kindly smile made him a figure like a family elder in the eyes of the villagers. Both adults and children enjoyed gathering around him to listen to his many fascinating tales.


    Seeing the eager eyes of the children£¬ Principal Zhang felt a wave of warmth in his heart. He knew that although these children lived in a poor village£¬ they were full of curiosity and hope for the world.


    ¡°Usually£¬ I tell you historical stories and¡°Journey to the West¡°£¬ Principal Zhang said with a smile£¬ his voice gentle and melodic.¡°Today£¬ let''s go with a lighter story£¬ shall we?¡°


    The children''s eyes widened£¬ nodding in anticipation of a good story.


    ¡°Long ago£¬ an alien came to Earth and encountered a farmer selling vegetables. The alien pointed a finger£¬ indicating something big. The farmer£¬ without hesitation£¬ showed two fingers. The alien then puffed out its chest£¬ showing three fingers with a fierce expression. The farmer thought for a moment and then held up six fingers£¬ tapping his iron hoe£¬ making a crisp sound£¬ and miming hoeing the ground. The alien£¬ discouraged£¬ returned to its spaceship and left Earth.¡°


    ¡°Mr. Zhang£¬ what does it mean?¡° the chubby boy Barney always curious£¬ asked.


    ¡°When the alien got back to its spaceship£¬ his companion asked the same. The alien said£¬''I pointed one finger£¬ indicating our huge interstellar fleet. The farmer showed two fingers£¬ meaning Earth has two fleets£¬ even bigger than ours. I said we have three thousand fierce warriors£¬ and the farmer said Earth has six thousand£¬ as tough as iron£¬ able to bury us here.''¡°


    The glow of the campfire danced in the night sky£¬ casting warm shadows on Principal Zhang''s face. His face was marked with the passage of time£¬ but his eyes remained bright and expressive. Whenever he reached a thrilling part of the story£¬ his eyes would narrow slightly and his mouth would curl into a smile£¬ as if he too were lost in the world of the tale.


    ¡°But Mr. Zhang£¬ we don''t have any interstellar fleet or warriors!¡° Barney couldn''t help but interject.


    The teacher patiently explained£¬¡°Yes£¬ the farmer was puzzled too. Seeing the alien''s one finger£¬ he thought it asked the price of a big pumpkin in the field£¬ so he showed two fingers£¬ meaning two dollars!¡°This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The children giggled.


    ¡°The farmer saw the alien showing three fingers£¬ thinking it asked the price for three pumpkins£¬ so he indicated six dollars and tapped his hoe£¬ meaning he could harvest them right away. The alien£¬ frightened£¬ ran away!¡°


    ¡°Ha ha ha£¬¡° the children''s laughter echoed joyfully in the night sky.


    -----------------


    A-Lai found his classroom£¬ his slightly slender frame draped in a faded blue shirt. The desks and chairs were pushed to the back of the room£¬ some desks even turned upside down on top of others.


    In the corner£¬ three or four girls huddled together£¬ whispering and giggling£¬ their laughter echoing softly in the night breeze. Their figures swayed gently in the dim light£¬ like night sprites£¬ their laughter flowing like a clear stream£¬ infusing the dark corner with youthful vitality.


    By the moonlight£¬ A-Lai could make out the familiar faces of his classmates. He stole a glance at a girl in a pretty dress. She was the girl who sat next to him in class£¬ always quiet and unassuming£¬ yet she never failed to catch his eye. He longed to speak to her£¬ but every time he tried£¬ his heart would race uncontrollably£¬ and his throat would tighten as if an invisible rope were strangling him. He held a simple greeting in his heart£¬ but whenever their eyes met£¬ the words seemed impossible to utter. He feared rejection£¬ and even more£¬ he feared ruining the silent beauty of their unspoken connection.


    When their eyes met£¬ she smiled¡ªa clear£¬ warm smile£¬ like a gentle ray of sunlight£¬ giving him warmth and comfort. Whenever her smile touched him£¬ his heart would tremble£¬ and the world would seem to brighten in that moment.


    A-Lai slowed his steps£¬ moving to his seat by the window. He lightly jumped onto his desk£¬ glancing at the shadow beside him£¬ imagining the girl sitting there. Moonlight caressed his profile£¬ soft and serene.


    His eyes are like two lakes£¬ filled with views of gentle moon shadows. He took a deep breath£¬ as if to etch this beautiful moment into his memory. Even years later£¬ he would never forget that night£¬ that moment£¬ and that warm smile that lingered in his mind.


    An old man£¬ accompanied by his young grandson£¬ walked down the corridor towards the classroom. The old man''s face bore the marks of time£¬ each wrinkle a testament to his years. His eyes were filled with affection as he held the boy''s hand£¬ who skipped along beside him. The boy''s hair was a tousled mess£¬ a bundle of chestnut curls bouncing with his every step. As they approached the classroom door£¬ the boy''s eyes lit up at the sight of A-Lai bathed in soft moonlight.


    At that moment£¬ a senior student''s shadow appeared at the entrance. The old man''s sharp gaze cut through the darkness of the corridor£¬ his presence so commanding that it seemed to root the shadow in place. After the grandfather and grandson entered the classroom£¬ the shadow reluctantly continued walking£¬ fading away down the corridor.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know£¬ but that old man''s aura was too strong. I have a feeling if I got any closer£¬ I''d be in serious trouble.¡±


    ¡°Who is he? He just looks like a regular old man.¡±


    ¡°A regular old man? With eyes that can cut you in half?¡±


    ¡°Are they our competitors?¡±


    ¡°Now that we''ve found the target£¬ who can say other killors won''t find it too? Anyway£¬ I''m leaving tonight.¡±


    ¡°Hey£¬ wait£¬ come back!¡±


    In an inconspicuous corner£¬ a couple of senior students were now fast asleep£¬ back-to-back. They might not remember what happened£¬ or they might have a vague sense£¬ like a part of a nightmare.


    Another shadow crept closer and leaped towards A-Lai£¬ successfully approaching him unnoticed. The figure lunged at him with a loud roar.

 7

    To everyone''s surprise£¬ A-Lai remained calm£¬ his expression unchanged.


    ¡°You''re so boring!¡° A small figure darted to A-Lai''s side¡ªit was Little Fly£¬ the class prankster. Despite his short stature£¬ he was as nimble as a cat£¬ always darting around the classroom.


    ¡°Hey£¬ A-Lai£¬ are you always this slow to react?¡° Little Fly grinned mischievously£¬ looping his arm around A-Lai''s neck£¬ his eyes sparkling with playful energy.


    A-Lai smiled slightly and replied£¬¡°I can smell your coming from far far away.¡°


    ¡°Stop bragging! By the way£¬ A-Lai£¬ can you teach me those cool spear moves? I can''t wait any longer!¡°


    Little Fly always admired A-Lai£¬ who had mastered spear techniques under the guidance of the village''s kung fu master. But the master was hesitant to teach Little Fly£¬ who lacked patience and couldn''t even hold a basic horse stance for three minutes.


    A-Lai thought for a moment and reluctantly said£¬¡°I can teach you the basics£¬ but the master insists that the spear techniques cannot be passed on.¡°


    ¡°I just want to learn your special moves£¬ like the¡®Backfire Spear'' and the¡®Poseidon''s Trident.'' And I''ll bring you your favorite sweet syrup.¡° Little Fly continued to coax A-Lai into agreeing.


    ¡°But that''s not allowed. I need to ask the master.¡°A-Lai responded.


    ¡°Why do you always have to ask the master for everything? Just teach me yourself!¡°Little Fly protested.


    ¡°If the master finds out£¬ he might be very angry!¡° A-Lai warned.


    ¡°You''re so stingy£¬ no fun!¡°


    Little Fly quickly joined another lively conversation with his classmates£¬ laughing with them. Soon£¬ he forgot about the spear techniques altogether£¬ finding joy in the playful banter with his friends.


    A-Lai''s fingers gently brushed the long£¬ over one-meter package on his desk. Inside was a cleverly segmented spear£¬ an old friend he had practiced with for years. The time was near. He took a deep breath and hopped onto the floor£¬ grabbing the package with one hand£¬ his palm slightly sweaty with anticipation


    Around the bonfire£¬ the headmaster and students formed a tight circle£¬ creating a small stage in the silent night. The girl''s gaze was fixed solely on the boy in the center£¬ his silhouette dancing at the edge of the flickering firelight. Every movement he made was graceful and mysterious£¬ as if he were performing a magical show just for her.


    The boy''s spear spun£¬ transforming into a cascade of flames£¬ splitting from one into three£¬ then nine£¬ like a mesmerizing flower of fire. To her£¬ the boy seemed like a mystical magician£¬ turning the tranquil night into a vibrant tableau£¬ painting a world of wonder.


    However£¬ the joyous atmosphere was abruptly shattered by a scream from the nearby woods.


    A student£¬ noticing something unusual£¬ asked£¬¡°Did you hear that high-pitched scream from the woods?¡°


    ¡°No£¬ don''t disturb me. I''m watching him...Eh£¬ I mean... the show£¬¡°her friend replied£¬ fully engrossed in the boy''s captivating performance. As another round of applause erupted£¬ the girl clapped along£¬ unaware that her hands were turning red.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    When her hero finally steadied his spear£¬ standing firm as a mountain£¬ his unwavering demeanor earned everyone''s admiration.


    The headmaster led the applause£¬ the children''s eyes fixed on the boy£¬ filled with awe and admiration. Their gazes were full of dreams for the future£¬ seeing their own aspirations reflected in the boy.


    -----------------


    As the night deepened£¬ distant sounds of laughter and revelry echoed through the darkness£¬ and Darek and Dylan momentarily fell into a trance. Suddenly£¬ the bushes rustled violently£¬ and the harsh£¬ guttural howls of wolves pierced the night. A few fearsome wolves appeared before them£¬ their cunning green eyes gleaming in the darkness like malevolent sprites.


    ¡°It seems tonight''s gathering is a bit ''special''£¬¡° Darek''s voice was calm yet edged with cold severity. His gaze was sharp as a blade as he scanned their surroundings. He picked up a sturdy branch from the ground£¬ swiftly stripped it of leaves£¬ and skillfully fashioned it into a rudimentary weapon. Darek''s eyes were intent.¡°Brother£¬ the wolves'' weak points are their throats and bellies. Their throats have thinner fur and are more vulnerable£¬ while their bellies are the least protected. Targeting these areas will effectively diminish their fighting ability.¡°


    Dylan''s eyes twinkled with mischief. He grinned and picked up a slender branch as his weapon£¬ giving Darek a playful wink.¡°Big bro£¬ you''re a real ''professional''. But I think these branches will really surprise the wolves¡ªlet''s not let them think we''re their dinner!¡°


    Darek maintained his vigilance while adjusting his grip on the branch£¬ speaking seriously.¡°Stay calm£¬ and don''t expose our backs. Remember£¬ there won''t be a large pack of wolves here. We just need to aim for their weak spots and give them a few hard hits£¬ and they''ll retreat.¡°


    The wolves started to circle them£¬ the lead wolf growling menacingly£¬ showing no intention of letting them go. Darek quickly moved£¬ darting behind one wolf. With a strong swing of the branch£¬ he hit its side with a dull thud. The wolf yelped in pain£¬ sliding several meters away with a sad cry.


    Seeing Darek''s success£¬ Dylan was eager to join in. He used his branch like a sharp arrow£¬ slicing through the air with a¡°whoosh¡° as it struck a wolf''s flank. The wolf howled in agony and staggered back a step.


    While swinging his branch£¬ Dylan cheekily remarked£¬¡°Big bro£¬ our¡®weapons'' aren''t half bad!¡°


    Darek smirked slightly but stayed alert. He quickly swung his branch to fend off another wolf trying to pounce on them.¡°Keep it up! The wolves are moving around a lot. If we hold out a bit longer£¬ more people will come! These wolves will have to leave!¡±


    The wolves'' retreat was swifter than expected£¬ disappearing in the blink of an eye.


    ¡°Well£¬ this¡®gathering'' was a bit¡®exciting''£¬¡° Dylan laughed£¬ patting Darek on the shoulder.¡°Next time£¬ I''m bringing my bow and arrows¡ªit''ll be even better!¡°


    The two walked arm in arm£¬ chatting and laughing merrily. Dylan bent down to pick up a clay pot£¬ while Darek stayed put£¬ glancing towards the campfire£¬ hoping they hadn''t wasted too much time. Suddenly£¬ a gentle breeze brushed past£¬ and Darek noticed the distant campfire flicker as if cut in half by something. Before he could react£¬ a sharp wolf''s claw slashed across his throat. Blood spurted out like a fountain£¬ and he desperately clutched his neck£¬ trying to staunch the flow£¬ but it was unstoppable£¬ soaking his clothes.


    Dylan£¬ hearing the strange noise£¬ turned around£¬ his eyes widening in horror at the sight of two glowing red orbs£¬ burning like embers. A powerful force then hurled him against a tree. He heard the sickening crack of his spine breaking before he crumpled to the ground£¬ limp as a ragdoll. In the dim light£¬ a towering werewolf stood over the fallen brothers£¬ its cold gaze scanning the surroundings to ensure there were no further threats. Then£¬ it silently vanished into the underbrush£¬ leaving behind a scene as eerie and silent as when it arrived.


    The wolf pack quickly regrouped£¬ black mist swirling around them£¬ causing strange changes. The wounds of the two injured wolves began to clot£¬ turning into black scabs and numbing their pain. Even the bones around their injuries started to stick out. Their red eyes burned again with an unending£¬ fierce battle spirit.


    Sebastian£¬ the gambling company''s owner£¬ watched this scene with a flicker of interest in his eyes. A smile curved his lips.¡°This is far more entertaining than I anticipated!¡° He quickly dialed the number of a top host£¬ instructing him to immediately join the hunt''s hosting duties while also opening the gambling channels.

 8

    Amid the bustling party£¬ Diz Dan£¬ the fourth brother of the household£¬ turned to one of the women and asked£¬¡°Sister£¬ where''s my eldest brother? Why hasn''t he arrived yet?¡°


    ¡°He and the second brother sneaked off early£¬¡° she replied with a smirk£¬¡°I bet they''re hiding somewhere and sneaking a drink.¡°


    A mischievous glint sparkled in Diz Dan''s eyes.¡°Alright£¬ I''ll go help find them!¡°


    The eldest sister-in-law raised an eyebrow in suspicion.¡°Afraid you''ll miss out on the good wine if you''re too slow?¡°


    Diz Dan£¬ slightly embarrassed£¬ slowed his pace.¡°Of course not£¬¡° he muttered£¬ glancing around in search of his two brothers who had abandoned him for their secret drinking session.


    Suddenly£¬ Diz Dan noticed a vague figure on the edge of the woods. Squinting£¬ he tried to make out what it was. The figure drew nearer£¬ moving with a strange£¬ stiff gait. As it came closer£¬ Diz Dan saw that the figure was covered in tatters£¬ bloodstained£¬ and the face was pale with an expression of utter despair and terror.


    The figure let out a hoarse cry£¬¡°Help... help me!¡° The voice seemed to come from the depths of the throat. Diz Dan''s heart raced as he watched the figure stagger towards the wooden fence£¬ nearly spent. Just as it was about to reach£¬ it collapsed with a thud.


    Diz Dan''s nerves snapped into high alert.


    ¡°What is that? Is it a person?¡° He shouted out£¬ drawing the attention of the nearby women who turned their gazes toward the commotion. The closer they looked£¬ the clearer it became¡ªit was a blood-soaked human. Just ten meters from the outermost wooden fence£¬ the figure was writhing on the ground in agony.


    A scream cut through the night£¬ followed by a wave of uneasy murmurs spreading through the crowd. Fear and confusion etched on every face£¬ the villagers instinctively gathered towards the direction of the fence. Some held their breath£¬ eyes wide in disbelief£¬ while a few timid villagers trembled£¬ their eyes glinting with fear in the darkness.


    ¡°What''s going on?¡° one villager asked another in a low£¬ nervous voice£¬ scanning the area.


    The headmaster and several villagers£¬ quick to react£¬ prepared to head towards the fence gate. However£¬ a hand suddenly grabbed them tightly.¡°Don''t go over there£¬ headmaster. It seems... there might be something out there£¬¡° the voice trembled with anxiety. The headmaster halted£¬ casting a wary glance around. His gaze swept the darkness£¬ a chilling premonition rising in his chest. The surrounding villagers also stopped£¬ holding their breath£¬ waiting anxiously for further instructions.


    Seeing the headmaster pause£¬ the villagers halted too.¡°A-Lai£¬ what do you see?¡°


    An impatient villager shouted£¬¡°A-Lai£¬ don''t dawdle! Saving lives is more important!¡°Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    A-Lai sniffed the air£¬ catching a faint£¬ unusual scent of rust. It grew stronger as he approached. His keen nose detected the ominous smell£¬ which seemed to herald impending danger.


    His ears tuned to the whisper of the wind£¬ as if it was revealing some secret. A-Lai tightened his grip on his spear£¬ his palms sweating slightly. He discreetly wiped his hands on his pants£¬ trying to steady himself.


    The spear felt heavy in his hands£¬ but his arms had grown accustomed to its weight. When nervous£¬ he would unconsciously twirl the spear£¬ the coarse cloth wrapping absorbing the sweat from his palms.


    At that moment£¬ his ears caught a faint sound£¬ like the heavy breathing of some creature lurking in the night£¬ mixed with the subtle crackle of dry branches under the light steps of a large feline. His heart raced£¬ but he took a deep breath£¬ striving to remain calm. Now was not the time for panic; he needed to stay clear-headed.


    Living in a remote mountain village surrounded by dense forests£¬ A-Lai''s master£¬ though a small old man£¬ had taught him many wondrous skills and secrets. His master had once made him gaze at distant leaves until he could discern every vein£¬ and then further£¬ until he could identify reflections in moonlight¡ªwhether they were water drops£¬ dew£¬ or something else.


    As his heart pounded like a drum in his chest£¬ A-Lai''s palms grew damp£¬ and his grip on the spear trembled slightly. He recalled his master''s lessons on staying composed£¬ focusing intently on the darkness ahead. He knew that now£¬ more than ever£¬ he must remain alert; any sign of panic could lead to disastrous consequences.


    That was the shadow of a dark creature£¬ its form indistinguishable£¬ silently approaching them. Unable to see clearly£¬ A-Lai shouted£¬¡°Something''s coming!¡° His voice pierced the night£¬ startling the last of the villagers near the school gate.


    ¡°What is that?¡° More students noticed the ground seemed to be alive£¬ slowly writhing.


    An impatient villager had already opened the fence gate and rushed out towards the fallen villager. But now£¬ the fallen figure lay motionless.


    ¡°Stop him!¡° the headmaster shouted£¬ but it was too late.


    ¡°Hey£¬ buddy£¬ don''t go out!¡° The other villagers'' voices of persuasion came to an abrupt halt as they saw the impatient man get taken down in an instant by a pack of dark beasts. These were direwolves£¬ their eyes glowing red£¬ their movements swift and lethal. They surrounded him like a black whirlwind£¬ dragging him into the depths of the night.


    The man struggled£¬ his voice sharp and broken with fear£¬ his cries echoing through the night£¬¡°Help me!¡° However£¬ this plea for help was cut short within seconds as one of the wolves bit down on his throat. Blood splattered£¬ and his voice fell silent.


    The villagers were stunned by the horrific scene£¬ everyone frozen in place£¬ not daring to take a step forward to save him. In the darkness£¬ the low growls of the wolves and the man''s gradually weakening moans intertwined£¬ as if the grim reaper of the night was harvesting a life. The villagers could only watch helplessly£¬ their hearts filled with impotence and fear.


    A female student who witnessed the horrific scene turned pale£¬ her eyes wide and mouth agape. She seemed on the verge of screaming£¬ but fear stifled her voice. Her trembling hands hung limply at her sides£¬ her whole being frozen in that moment.


    The gruesome spectacle£¬ however£¬ greatly excited the onlookers in the shadows. Their faces£¬ twisted and fierce under the dim light£¬ held a cold£¬ cruel gleam. Every mouth curled into a twisted smile. The gamblers£¬ holding their glasses of alcohol£¬ some even chewing cigars£¬ never took their eyes off the bloody scene. Their fingers tapped lightly in the air£¬ as if awaiting an upcoming feast£¬ their expressions filled with malice and greed.


    The gamblers began to murmur among themselves£¬ their tone dripping with mockery and excitement. A burly man sneered£¬¡°See£¬ this is what they call¡®despair.''¡° Another gambler scoffed£¬¡°This show has just begun; don''t be in a hurry to leave.¡° Their words revealed a chilling disregard for the victims'' suffering and a fervent appetite for violence.

 9

    ¡°Clang! Clang! Clang¡° The resonant sound of the bell echoed through the night sky. In the pitch darkness£¬ a massive red countdown appeared£¬ ticking down from an hour. It shifted to 5900£¬ and then a minute later£¬ to 5800. The blood-red numbers were strikingly vivid£¬ like fresh blood against the black canvas of the night. Beside the countdown£¬ the equally vivid number 304 stood out sharply.


    ¡°What is that? I''ve never seen anything like this before!¡°


    ¡°Is it a miracle? Is that a sign from the God?¡°


    ¡°I think it''s the work of aliens!¡°


    ¡°There is no God or aliens!¡± a villager argued.¡°I''ve never seen one of those before!¡±


    ¡°Could it be a countdown? What if a disaster happens in an hour?¡°


    ¡°What does the number beside it mean?¡°


    The villagers'' whispers merged into a buzzing sea of anxious murmurs.


    ¡°Don''t panic£¬¡° the principal said£¬ gazing up at the sky. The red numbers were unnervingly bright against the dark background. He clenched his fists£¬ feeling a tremor of fear. He had never faced such a scenario before; the fear inside him surged like a hidden tide. But he knew he had to stay calm. The villagers depended on him for leadership.¡°Everyone£¬ move slowly towards the bonfire!¡° He understood that this situation was beyond anything he had ever known.


    In the face of unknown terror£¬ the best strategy was to keep everyone together. Amidst the tense atmosphere£¬ the villagers slowly retreated to the bonfire. The principal hurriedly closed the school''s gate. The fence£¬ standing waist-high£¬ provided a small sense of security. People gathered behind him£¬ children already in tears£¬ mothers frantically holding or carrying them into the schoolhouse.


    ¡°Women and children first£¬ hurry! We must protect them!¡° The principal''s voice was firm but tinged with urgency as he scanned the crowd£¬ trying to hide his own fear.


    ¡°With so many of us here£¬ we have nothing to fear!¡° a villager shouted£¬ attempting to calm the group.


    ¡°Yeah£¬ who cares about any demons or monsters!¡° another chimed in£¬ though their voice wavered.


    ¡°Principal Zhang£¬ can I go out and check?¡° A-Lai£¬ holding a spear£¬ seemed to unconsciously place himself in front of the principal£¬ asking in a low voice.


    ¡°No£¬ you''re too young. Stay with the second group going into the schoolhouse! All students£¬ prepare to enter the schoolhouse!¡° The principal stood in front of A-Lai without a word. A-Lai£¬ looking at the broad shoulders in front of him£¬ smiled silently.¡°Principal£¬ you''re blocking my view!¡°


    ¡°All able-bodied men£¬ find weapons and stand at the perimeter with me!¡° The principal appeared as calm and composed as usual£¬ as if he were organizing a harvest.¡°You£¬ go inside and bring out some tables£¬ throw them out of the first-floor windows£¬ as fast as you can!¡° Despite the oddness of the request£¬ several young villagers complied obediently.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ---


    Little Fly rushed into the third-floor classroom£¬ hurriedly pushing open the window and leaning out to look around. More students crowded into the classroom£¬ eagerly pressing to the windows£¬ nervously asking£¬¡°Can you see anything?¡°


    ¡°Ah£¬ I see something!¡° one exclaimed£¬ drawing everyone''s attention.


    In the darkness£¬ shadows moved£¬ creating an unsettling atmosphere as they drew closer to the school. It seemed the entire school was surrounded.


    ¡°Wolves£¬ the wolves are here!¡° the student blurted out£¬ nervously watching the shifting shadows. These terror wolves were enormous and displayed remarkable intelligence. They didn''t attack recklessly but instead slowly tightened their circle. Outside the wooden fence£¬ the growls of beasts formed a deadly ambiance. The wolves'' eyes gleamed with hunger as they silently surrounded the gate£¬ moving swiftly and silently like ghosts. Their eyes glowed with a feral light£¬ their fangs dripping with eager saliva£¬ their dense fur gleaming hard in the moonlight. Their tails were tucked tightly£¬ like warriors ready to charge at any moment.


    ¡°Are all those shadows wolves?¡° Little Fly asked anxiously£¬ scanning the forest edge where shadows kept appearing like nightmares emerging from the night.


    A girl exclaimed£¬¡°Look£¬ their eyes are red! Wolves'' eyes shouldn''t be red! This is terrifying!¡°


    ¡°Whatever they are£¬ please don''t come in!¡° another girl prayed£¬ clutching her chest.


    At the edge of their vision£¬ the dark specters paused briefly before swiftly darting around. Their outlines were eerie and blurred£¬ yet they moved quickly toward the school.


    Outside the wooden fence£¬ some villagers£¬ hoping against hope£¬ said£¬¡°The fence is high and sturdy. We built it together with the principal. These terror wolves can''t get through!¡°


    ¡°Those beasts are as big as calves. The fence won''t hold them£¬¡° another villager retorted.


    As the shadows grew denser outside£¬ the villagers crowded around the windows£¬ peering out anxiously.


    A-Lai smelled the stench in the air£¬ straightened his back involuntarily£¬ and gripped his iron spear tightly. His fingers twirled the spear shaft slightly£¬ easing his inner tension. The spear£¬ wrapped in coarse cloth soaked in linseed oil and sun-dried repeatedly£¬ appeared deep black. In the tense atmosphere£¬ the spear seemed to absorb his sweat£¬ silently soaking up each drop. The weight of the spear gave him a sense of security.


    ---


    From their elevated vantage point£¬ the principal and the villagers looked like a group of ants£¬ their initial panic gradually giving way to a semblance of order. This organizational ability had piqued the gambling company''s interest immensely. Now£¬ Caron and another well-dressed man hosted the gambling event through 3D projections.


    ¡°Mr. Caron£¬ your hunting game has caught my interest. Could you introduce the lineup for the first round?¡° The man in the black suit had an exaggeratedly large mouth that drew attention.


    ¡°Honorable Mr. Kim£¬ esteemed viewers£¬ as you know£¬ this is a remote village. But who knows if there are hidden talents here? Our hunters are mutated terror wolves. Terror wolves are vicious animals£¬ but after mutation£¬ they are relentless unless their brains are blown out or their bodies are shattered.¡°


    ¡°Are you saying your hunters are like zombie wolves?¡° Mr. Kim''s face showed surprise£¬ though it was hard to tell how much was genuine.


    ¡°Yes£¬ like zombie wolves.¡°


    ¡°So£¬ what do you estimate will happen to the 304 villagers here? Or£¬ how many do you think will survive the first round?¡°


    ¡°My estimate is fewer than ten.¡°


    ¡°Oh£¬ then it''s going to be a bloodbath?¡°


    ¡°Yes£¬ it will be brutal£¬ but I hope I''m wrong. Terror wolves have deadly weaknesses that hunters can exploit.¡°


    ¡°How many hunters are there among the villagers?¡°


    ¡°About one-fifth of them are hunters.¡°


    ¡°So the best outcome would be around sixty survivors?¡°


    ¡°Yes.¡°


    ¡°Alright£¬ a truly cruel game. Now£¬ I''ll introduce the betting options arranged by our company. It''s mainly about guessing the number of survivors. Use your imagination or luck to make the boldest predictions!¡°


    ¡°......¡°


    The audience placed their bets£¬ mostly small amounts£¬ leaving Mr. Kim less than satisfied.


    ¡°Any more bets? Alright£¬ it seems most are still waiting. Let''s begin! The hunting game starts now!¡° Mr. Kim announced passionately. Caron and the gamblers watched thegame with flushed faces.

 10

    Listening to the principal''s booming voice£¬ A-Lai stood silently beside him. Diz Dan£¬ a robust young man£¬ swaggered over and stood next to A-Lai£¬ making exaggerated winks at him. Dan was somewhat like A-Lai''s senior£¬ though the master had only officially taken A-Lai as his apprentice.


    Dan£¬ however£¬ clung to the master daily£¬ cooking£¬ brewing tea£¬ and acting every bit the senior disciple. Only A-Lai knew that the master had never formally taken a second apprentice£¬ though Dan had learned a lot of martial arts over the years. Dan had arrived several years before A-Lai and always called him¡°junior brother¡° without hesitation£¬ a title A-Lai never contested.


    Half of the students were still lining up to enter the school building£¬ with a large number of villagers waiting behind them. Among the last few students£¬ a pair of anxious eyes nervously watched A-Lai£¬ seemingly eager to convey something£¬ but shyness held her back. A-Lai''s sixth sense picked up on someone watching him. When he turned around£¬ the girl had already moved to help an elderly villager cut in line£¬ her position hardly changing.


    In his heart£¬ A-Lai thought£¬¡°I like this kind-hearted girl!¡° He gazed at her familiar slender figure and long£¬ black hair£¬ feeling a touch of sweetness. He instinctively raised his hand as if to wave£¬ but it hung in midair.¡°What am I doing? Saying goodbye to that girl? What if she doesn''t even like me?¡° These thoughts flooded his mind£¬ rendering him immobile.


    Suddenly£¬ everything around him fell silent. A-Lai had never experienced such an eerie situation. The quiet was so profound that he could hear his companions'' heavy breathing. He looked around. The night was dark£¬ and the forest''s rustling leaves and snapping branches grew louder. Moonlight filtered through the treetops£¬ casting a silver sheen on the ground and revealing slowly gathering hellish creatures. Five£¬ ten£¬ hundreds of terror wolves silently surrounded the schoolyard£¬ their endless red eyes like the gazes of demons from hell£¬ their silent presence sending shivers down spines and making it hard to breathe.


    Terror wolves were said to be the ancestors of modern wolves£¬ towering and with especially long£¬ sharp teeth exposed in a menacing snarl. When they stood£¬ they were taller than A-Lai. The wolves slowly tightened their encirclement£¬ their breaths and low growls echoing in the night. In the shadows of the forest£¬ the pack seemed endless£¬ a dark£¬ suffocating mass. Most of the terror wolves closed in on A-Lai£¬ seemingly mocking his isolation.


    A-Lai smelled blood mixed with the wolves¡¯ foul stench. Their low growls and footsteps made him uneasy. The wooden fence seemed weak against the wolf pack£¬ and the schoolyard felt like a sieve. Wolves easily jumped over the fence£¬ closing in on the school¡¯s main entrance.


    The school''s two main doors were packed with students and villagers seeking refuge. The principal and Dan hastily formed two semi-circular defensive lines outside£¬ but how effective could these defenses be? No one had confidence.¡°Quick! Get inside the school!¡° several teachers urged at the doors. The young villagers guarded the perimeter£¬ but the line consisted mainly of the elderly£¬ women£¬ and children. Speed was not on their side£¬ much to everyone''s frustration.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    A-Lai didn''t follow his classmates into the school building but resolutely stood at the edge of Dan''s team. He vividly remembered his master''s question on the first day:¡°Why do you want to learn martial arts?¡° Without hesitation£¬ A-Lai had replied£¬¡°To protect!¡° Dan had laughed loudly at A-Lai''s answer.¡°Kid£¬ I''ve heard many reasons¡ªpeople wanting to become the greatest martial artist£¬ seeking revenge£¬ or wanting to defend themselves. But to protect? That''s a first! With that sharp spear£¬ what do you think you can protect? Forget it£¬ you won''t become the master''s apprentice!¡°


    But before Dan''s laughter had faded£¬ the master''s eyes lit up. He grabbed A-Lai''s arm.¡°Finding a good master is hard£¬ but finding a good apprentice is even harder! Tell me£¬ what do you want to protect?¡°


    Much to Dan''s chagrin£¬ from that day on£¬ A-Lai had become the master''s first apprentice. Today was no different. A-Lai''s spear was ready to protect his fellow villagers£¬ his classmates£¬ his teachers£¬ and his school. How could he possibly hide in the school building?


    Dan glanced sideways at him.¡°Kid£¬ don''t say I didn''t warn you. This is a bigger deal than anything I''ve seen. You''d better leave while you still can!¡° Dan''s slightly condescending attitude made A-Lai feel humiliated. He snorted but didn''t move. Dan grinned and ignored him.


    The wolves'' eyes glinted coldly in the night£¬ closing in£¬ creating a sense of inescapable pressure. Someone shouted£¬ trying to scare the beasts£¬ but it sounded more like self-encouragement. Villagers instinctively tightened their defensive circle£¬ the young men holding wooden sticks£¬ standing shoulder to shoulder. More terror wolves gathered around A-Lai£¬ seemingly identifying him as an easy target.


    A-Lai slightly turned his head£¬ realizing he was too close to the protected villagers. He told himself he couldn''t retreat any further. Squatting slightly to steady himself£¬ he ended up at the forefront of the battle. The tense atmosphere created a standoff that favored the villagers.


    With forty minutes remaining£¬ a terror wolf fixed its malevolent gaze on A-Lai and suddenly leaped forward£¬ rapidly closing in before stopping and growling. A-Lai''s pupils contracted as he instinctively stepped back£¬ his spear tip pointing upward. The spear shaft unintentionally stopped his retreat£¬ forming a defensive stance from martial arts. He realized the wolf''s action was a test£¬ gauging his reaction. As he suspected£¬ the wolf barked furiously£¬ as if mocking his weakness.


    A-Lai''s heart twinged with shame. After years of rigorous training£¬ this was his performance in battle. A sudden surge of anger and determination welled up inside him.¡°No retreat£¬ fight to the death!¡° he shouted. This was an ancient military command£¬ passed down in village legends. Inspired£¬ the villagers echoed£¬¡°No retreat£¬ fight to the death!¡° The scattered shouts grew into a thunderous roar£¬ momentarily halting the wolves'' advance.


    The surrounding wolves'' momentum weakened£¬ displeasing the initial wolf. It prowled before A-Lai£¬ growling£¬ trying to catch his attention. Its fur bristled as it feigned attacks£¬ pausing each time. It forced A-Lai to follow its movements with his gaze£¬ misjudging the next attack as another feint. Suddenly£¬ another terror wolf lunged from the side like lightning£¬ its fangs aimed at A-Lai''s throat. This was the real attack they had been preparing for.


    At the same moment£¬ the wolf in front launched a genuine assault. With their intricate feints and real strikes£¬ even seasoned hunters would struggle to counter such tactics. A-Lai was undoubtedly in grave danger.

 11

    At the critical moment when everyone was anticipating the deadly blend of the terror wolf''s superior hunting skills and its brutal slaughter£¬ the broadcast suddenly paused£¬ prompting boos and curses from the audience. In a major livestream£¬ such an incident was a serious mishap£¬ and the host would be heavily criticized. However£¬ Caron had nothing left to lose and decided to fully embrace his carefree attitude.


    ¡°Dear bros£¬ it''s not your broadcast equipment that''s malfunctioning£¬ nor is it a network issue. We''ve slowed things down on purpose. In the next moment£¬ you will witness either a bloody massacre or a dramatic reversal. Now£¬ I need your votes. You have two minutes¡ªjust two minutes¡ªto decide whether you choose 1 for the terror wolf''s feast or 2 for the boy''s narrow escape.¡°


    Mr. Kim£¬ experienced as ever£¬ smoothly took over the broadcast.¡°Dear brothers£¬ this is your golden opportunity to make a fortune. The odds of the boy turning the tables are currently 1:9. If someone seizes this chance£¬ they will become a winner in life!¡°


    Mr. Kim''s words were met with more boos.¡°That skinny boy isn''t even as big as a single terror wolf. He''d be lucky to survive£¬ let alone win. You''re a fraud£¬ you black-hearted scoundrel!¡° A woman with heavy makeup vented her anger. Some viewers placed bets online£¬ and soon£¬ the odds for the boy''s reversal shifted to 1:10£¬ clearly indicating that more people were betting on the terror wolf killing the boy.


    Two minutes later£¬ Caron successfully captured the audience''s attention£¬ even if it was out of anger. He leisurely returned the livestream speed to normal£¬ and all the viewers eagerly awaited the bloody spectacle. Some mothers covered their daughters'' eyes£¬ though their own eyes were wide open.


    The villagers and students crowded in front of the school gate£¬ anxiously waiting. Fear and unease were written all over their faces£¬ as if an invisible pressure filled the air.


    A little girl tightly held her mother¡¯s hand£¬ tears glistening in her eyes. Her mother whispered comforting words£¬ but her voice trembled. A nearby villager kept looking around£¬ loudly urging the people in front to hurry up and enter. The more panicked they became£¬ the more people stumbled and were trampled£¬ making the congestion even worse.


    In the crowd£¬ some whispered prayers£¬ while others nervously bit their nails. Many didn¡¯t dare to look back£¬ too afraid to face the impending horror. The low howls of wolves nearby sent shivers down everyone¡¯s spine. Villagers and students felt their hearts race and their breaths quicken. The physics teacher tried to guide everyone into the school£¬ but fear had already spread. People began to push and shove£¬ desperate to reach the only refuge. The principal£¬ outside the line£¬ grew increasingly anxious as the cries of children and the shouts of adults mingled into a chaotic noise.


    A child was dragged out of the line£¬ her mother frantically trying to pull her back£¬ only to be attacked by two or three terror wolves£¬ who dragged her away as well. Some villagers knelt in prayer£¬ seemingly spared as the wolves leapt over them£¬ preferring to attack the weaker students. The defense line was broken£¬ and those who fell had no chance to rise again.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    All this was a common sight for the cosmic onlookers during unexpected events£¬ yet what truly unfolded before them was a scene of calm and order£¬ an incredible stillness.


    The shadows of the terror wolves drew closer£¬ their howls now at the edge of the line£¬ bringing death and slaughter to the unarmed crowd. The outer villagers fought with all their might£¬ their soul-deep roars and the dull thuds of weapons striking the wolves filling the air. Each strike seemed a battle against fate£¬ sweat and blood mingling into a tragic scene.


    Behind them£¬ elderly villagers formed a second protective circle£¬ holding hands. They couldn¡¯t hide their fear£¬ many closing their eyes£¬ only to groan in pain when sharp wolf teeth tore at their flesh. Their hands trembled£¬ yet they held on£¬ forming a shield of flesh and blood. In the middle£¬ students£¬ women£¬ and children quickly and silently entered the school. Many were too scared to look up£¬ tears silently streaming down their faces. The silent actions and strength felt eerie and unusual.


    The night wind carried a heavy scent of blood£¬ mixed with the howls of the terror wolves. The ground was stained with blood£¬ the cruelty and ruthlessness of the battle evident everywhere.


    Many viewers of the live broadcast couldn¡¯t help but ask£¬¡°How can these people maintain such eerie order and calm?¡± Their voices echoed through the screen£¬ as if trying to pierce through the veil of mystery.


    ¡°Do they often face such dire situations?¡± one viewer asked£¬ eyes glued to the live feed£¬ filled with confusion and unease.


    ¡°Do they have some mysterious religious belief that teaches them to face death in silence?¡± another viewer murmured to themselves£¬ as if in a private conversation.


    But more viewers focused their attention on the young boy£¬ Alai. He stood there£¬ his breathing rapid£¬ as if awaiting the verdict of fate. The cunning hunters circled him£¬ their eyes glinting with a cold light£¬ having finally found the perfect moment to strike.


    ¡°Is this boy about to be dismembered?¡± The viewers held their breath£¬ hearts pounding£¬ as if they could hear the drumbeats in their chests. The air was thick with tension£¬ as if time itself had come to a standstill.


    Just then£¬ Alai moved. His actions were swift as the wind£¬ like a nimble leopard.


    ¡°Stab£¬ squelch¡°¡ªthe sound of a sharp weapon piercing flesh and blood spurting out. But it wasn''t A-Lai who was injured.


    Everyone had underestimated the boy£¬ thinking he knew nothing. But A-Lai£¬ who had no idea where his parents had gone since he was a child£¬ had grown up eating at the homes of various villagers. Without a claim to any land£¬ he had to collect herbs on the mountain from a young age and had seen many wild wolves£¬ foxes£¬ and black bears.


    He had long seen through the cunning terror wolf''s tricks but was willing to play along. Just as the other terror wolf thought it had seized the opportunity and launched a sudden attack£¬ A-Lai''s spear tip instantly shifted direction£¬ seemingly waiting for the wolf''s soft underjaw. The terror wolf£¬ already mid-leap£¬ couldn''t alter its course.


    Though the spear had a wooden tip£¬ the wolf''s weight drove it deep into its skull. A-Lai used its forward momentum to swing in a half-circle in the air and landed a heavy blow£¬ smashing the head of the showy terror wolf. The sharp crack of breaking bone and a howl of agony followed as the two massive terror wolves collided and collapsed£¬ motionless.


    The sudden turn of events caught everyone off guard. The other terror wolves were the first to react£¬ barking furiously at A-Lai£¬ as if cursing him in a language he didn''t understand. Some bettors behind the screens regretted not betting on the boy''s victory£¬ while those who won money lamented not wagering more. This gambling scene revealed the varied nature of human hearts£¬ much like on Earth.


    But A-Lai felt no joy. His instincts made him wary£¬ and he realized the situation was far from simple.

 12

    These creatures were both ordinary and extraordinary. They resembled rare mountain terror wolves£¬ but the faint black aura around them and the elusive stench of decay and death£¬ along with their unusual size£¬ gave them an eerie feel. Even the two terror wolves on the ground£¬ their brains smashed£¬ continued to struggle as if something inside them was trying to break free.


    Adding to the night''s bizarre red countdown£¬ these were not ordinary creatures£¬ and A-Lai knew little about them.


    Meanwhile£¬ Dan grew more excited. He swung his wooden stick at the creatures'' heads£¬ shouting and yelling. The stick sliced through the air like lightning£¬ and even when the terror wolves dodged£¬ it still hit their bodies with a dull thud. Under the firelight£¬ the creatures howled in pain£¬ slashing back with sharp claws. But Dan''s stick relentlessly struck their waists and backs. Eventually£¬ one creature fell£¬ motionless.


    Dan£¬ like a floodgate opened£¬ charged into the wolf pack£¬ swinging his rough stick wildly. He shouted£¬¡°Aim for the head£¬ stab the eyes£¬ get the ones in the back! Ladies£¬ did you see that? Dan''s the best!¡°


    His fierce assault scattered four or five wild wolves; some fled£¬ others fell£¬ howling in pain. Cheers erupted from behind the gate as his eyes gleamed with excitement. Dan reveled in the adrenaline rush£¬ thinking£¬¡°This feels amazing! I''ve never shown off like this in front of the girls... I mean£¬ everyone.¡°


    The wolves began to retreat£¬ feigning fear but not fully escaping£¬ stopping at a distance to bark provocatively£¬ luring him to chase.


    ¡°Ladies£¬ did you see? They''re scared of me! Now you know who the village hero is!¡° Dan thought excitedly.¡°I''ll bet Jian will agree to a date today! Where will our wedding be? What should we name our son?¡°


    Believing he had the upper hand£¬ Dan left the villagers far behind. He didn''t notice that the farther he went from the fire£¬ the deeper he plunged into darkness.


    Covered in blood¡ªboth his own and the wolves''¡ªhe felt no pain£¬ only joy. He didn''t notice the splintering wood or the cracks forming in his stick.


    He paid no attention to his surroundings or direction. He saw only the wolves ahead and heard only his breath. Dan was unaware that the wolves he''d knocked down behind him£¬ seemingly lifeless£¬ were slowly curling their upper limbs as if preparing for a backfire attack.


    ---


    The countdown in the sky reached the final ten minutes. The terror wolves'' attacks had caused widespread casualties among the villagers. Near the principal''s side£¬ all the villagers had retreated inside the school gates. On the other side£¬ only Dan and A-Lai stood out£¬ but A-Lai focused more on protecting the nearby villagers£¬ constantly tightening the defense circle due to the mounting injuries. In contrast£¬ Dan charged into the wolf pack.


    High above£¬ Caron once again stirred the gamblers'' emotions.¡°Dear bros£¬ did you see this hero? Trust your instincts. Do you think he''ll be our great hero by the time the countdown ends£¬ or will he be utterly defeated?¡° Given their recent experience£¬ the gamblers were now hesitant to make quick conclusions£¬ resulting in the odds shifting to 4:6£¬ a nearly equal chance for either outcome.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    His boss£¬ Sebastian£¬ gently lit a cigar£¬ the finest tobacco product on Earth. He took a deep puff£¬ as if savoring the sweetness of life. This unique aroma£¬ like a mysterious catalyst£¬ sparked his thoughts. Then£¬ he boldly bet a large sum of money£¬ gambling that Dan would lose his life. He doubted everything before his eyes£¬ unable to believe that these natives could be so lucky.


    A-Lai''s anxiety deepened£¬ and Dan''s nonchalant attitude unsettled him.¡°Dan£¬ you can''t take this lightly!¡° A-Lai urged£¬ feeling an ominous voice in his mind warning of impending doom.


    But Dan remained indifferent.¡°A-Lai£¬ don''t be scared. This monster isn''t that impressive!¡° he said confidently. Before he could finish his sentence£¬ seven or eight terror wolves surrounded him. These wolves£¬ which should have been killed£¬ still had blood-red eyes and drooled profusely. Even those with broken spines dragged themselves forward to continue their attack. The villagers£¬ terrified by the horrific scene£¬ dared not approach£¬ leaving Dan in chaos.


    A terror wolf took advantage of the chaos and lunged at Dan''s ankle£¬ its sharp teeth sinking into his flesh. The intense pain jolted Dan awake£¬ and he struggled to sit up£¬ searching for a stick to defend himself. But the stick had broken and was nowhere to be found. Meanwhile£¬ other stray wolves seized the opportunity to bite his left wrist£¬ making Dan scream in agony.¡°These damned creatures£¬ why won''t they die?!¡°


    The wolves'' attack intensified£¬ as if they knew this was the moment to break through the defense. They jumped frantically£¬ using Dan''s negligence to launch sudden attacks from behind and the sides£¬ biting his arms and legs£¬ tearing at his clothes and flesh. Dan cried out£¬ losing his balance and falling to the ground£¬ writhing in pain as the stick rolled aside. He tried to shield himself with his arms£¬ but the sharp teeth only left more wounds. The wolves had him surrounded£¬ like a pack of hungry hyenas£¬ ready to feast on his blood and entrails.


    Dan''s confidence shattered£¬ replaced by helplessness and disarray. It was like many people in real life who could win many times when things went smoothly£¬ but lose everything with one defeat.


    Seeing his usually playful and boisterous friend in danger£¬ A-Lai didn''t hesitate. His spear danced£¬ each swing carrying the force of wind and thunder£¬ executing the army''s¡°Sweeping Thousands¡° move. It was a technique used by soldiers£¬ like a raging elephant swinging its trunk£¬ destroying all obstacles in its path. Thick as a man''s arm£¬ tree trunks flew with a single strike. Terror wolves£¬ each heavier than A-Lai£¬ were sent flying.


    A young boy unleashed extraordinary power£¬ unstoppable. No wolf could withstand him. No one believed a skinny boy could single-handedly fling a terror wolf as heavy as a calf.¡°One£¬ two£¬ three!¡° The students huddled by the windows cheered for A-Lai£¬ amazed by their unassuming classmate''s skill.


    But A-Lai''s heart wasn''t at ease; he knew Dan wouldn''t last long. Taking a deep breath£¬ he leaped into the air£¬ his spear like a dragonfly touching water£¬ each strike hitting vital points and incapacitating his foes. The wolves recoiled in fear£¬ clustering together£¬ their eyes showing terror. Their noses twitched£¬ sensing the extraordinary aura emanating from A-Lai.


    Behind him£¬ terror wolves either lay dead£¬ impaled by the spear£¬ or retreated in fright. A seemingly dead wolf£¬ lying not far behind A-Lai£¬ suddenly sprang up like lightning£¬ its eyes gleaming with cunning and savagery£¬ teeth lunging at A-Lai''s calf.


    A pair of beautiful£¬ worried eyes shut tightly in fear. A gasp escaped£¬ startling that lovely face£¬ and the eyes turned to look at the familiar young boy''s figure.

 13

    A-Lai''s back seemed to have eyes. His spear moved like a live snake£¬ spinning 180 degrees£¬ the tip dipping down. In the wolf''s moment of surprise£¬ A-Lai''s eyes flashed coldly£¬ and the spear shot out like an arrow£¬ piercing the wolf''s brain with deadly precision. Blood and brain matter splattered as the wolf let out its final howl.


    ¡°What a masterful backfire spear!¡° This legendary spear technique£¬ a lifesaving move rarely seen£¬ amazed the villagers. No one had ever seen a spear wielded so skillfully.


    ¡°A-Lai£¬ keep going! Dan is just ahead!¡°


    With only three minutes left on the countdown£¬ could Dan hold on? His strength was immense£¬ capable of shattering a terror wolf''s lungs or breaking its spine£¬ but without crushing their hardest skulls£¬ these zombie-like creatures kept attacking relentlessly. Dan was losing hope£¬ his punches slowing. His legs were covered in wounds£¬ dragging two half-dead zombie wolves. Their blood-soaked teeth dripped steadily onto their fur.


    A-Lai£¬ instead of advancing£¬ cautiously bent down into a defensive stance. Before him stood a towering figure¡ªa werewolf£¬ a creature of legend. From the flames emerged a massive black wolf£¬ its fur wild£¬ its red eyes like burning amber. It charged at A-Lai like a locomotive. A-Lai rolled away£¬ shedding the immense force£¬ but his shoulder was left bloody£¬ five deep gashes marking him like a demon''s signature.


    The werewolf£¬ having missed its mark£¬ turned slowly toward Dan£¬ its back now exposed to A-Lai£¬ radiating disdain and challenge. A-Lai¡¯s heart pounded as this colossal war machine threatened Dan¡¯s life. With a thunderous shout£¬ A-Lai drew the beast¡¯s attention. His spear spun like a high-speed drill£¬ targeting the werewolf¡¯s lower back. A-Lai knew today might be his last£¬ but he was determined to save at least one life.


    Spear clashed with claw£¬ sparks flying. The werewolf¡¯s eyes glinted with hesitation and cunning. Its other massive paw slashed down like a storm£¬ aiming for A-Lai¡¯s spear hand. The werewolf¡¯s strength twisted the spear£¬ forcing A-Lai to leap back to avoid losing his arms. The onlookers gasped.


    The werewolf£¬ towering like a mountain£¬ exuded immense pressure£¬ making the air feel heavy. It toyed with A-Lai like a cat with a mouse. The wild wolves howled in admiration for their leader.


    With one minute left on the countdown£¬ Dan''s arms each bore the weight of a dire wolf. They clung to him£¬ using their mass to drag him down£¬ exposing his vulnerable throat to their fangs. One of the wolves leaped£¬ its claws digging into Dan''s abdomen£¬ teeth snapping at his neck. Dan closed his eyes£¬ feeling his blood draining away. He was parched and exhausted; death seemed like a release.


    ¡°Thud!¡° He collapsed to the ground£¬ his head drooping as he surrendered completely. His sudden relaxation caught the wolves off guard£¬ and they tumbled to the ground£¬ momentarily disoriented before rising again. One shook its head in disbelief£¬ eyeing Dan£¬ who sat motionless£¬ his pale neck exposed. Unable to resist the temptation of fresh flesh£¬ the wolf lunged once more. But at the same time£¬ three other wolves also saw the easy prey£¬ leading to a fierce struggle among them.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°Clang! Clang! Clang!¡° Three chimes echoed from the distance. The wolves£¬ tails tucked£¬ fled in a panic£¬ dragging their wounded companions by the necks. Dan lifted his head in confusion£¬ unsure of what had happened.


    The werewolf shot a cold glance at A-Lai£¬ as if to say£¬¡°Lucky day for you.¡° Then£¬ with a few swift bounds£¬ it vanished into the night.


    A-Lai stood there£¬ his body rigid. Only when the cold wind blew did he realize he was drenched in cold sweat. The number¡°304¡° in the sky had changed to¡°209¡°.


    After the betting ended£¬ the atmosphere in the room became unusually intense. The gamblers¡¯ reactions varied£¬ as if it were an emotional release.


    Some gamblers were full of regret£¬ angrily smashing everything around them£¬ as if this could vent their dissatisfaction.¡°Weren¡¯t they supposed to be slaughtered clean? How come only a few died? All my money went down the drain!¡± Their voices echoed in the air£¬ filled with endless disappointment and anger.


    On the other side£¬ some gamblers were exceptionally excited.¡°Luckily£¬ I casually bet 200£¬ and now I¡¯ve made a small profit£¬ hahaha!¡± Their laughter was sharp like bells£¬ as if the whole world was cheering for their good fortune.


    Others were deeply puzzled.¡°The last werewolf was clearly a level 2 hunter£¬ so why did they hold back at the last moment?¡± Their brows were furrowed£¬ eyes filled with confusion and doubt. Though their voices were not loud£¬ they always questioned£¬¡°This result is too strange. Could the organizers be manipulating things behind the scenes?¡±


    Some believed the outcome of this gamble was fate¡¯s arrangement£¬ convinced that everything was predestined.¡°This is fate¡¯s arrangement; winning or losing is all predetermined.¡±


    Others were more rational£¬ analyzing every detail£¬ trying to find patterns and reasons. They might say£¬¡°The result of this gamble is not accidental; there must be some kind of pattern or strategy involved.¡±


    Of course£¬ some chose to face it optimistically£¬ believing that regardless of the outcome£¬ the important thing was the process and experience. They would say£¬¡°Although I lost£¬ the process was fun and worth a try.¡±


    Sebastian watched in disbelief as what seemed a certain win was lost. He kept muttering to himself£¬ cursing how a guaranteed victory was ruined by a few greedy£¬ foolish wolves. Though the money was insignificant to him£¬ he couldn''t stop swearing£¬ unconsciously focusing all his attention on the small live broadcast.


    Mr. Kim seized the moment to ask Caron£¬¡°Mr. Caron£¬ wasn''t that thrilling? Some things we anticipated£¬ but many surprises too. What''s your take?¡°


    Caron''s face was flushed with excitement£¬ his viewership numbers had already matched his weekly total.¡°The biggest surprise was that boy! I never expected a warrior with such astonishing strength to come from a primitive village. Not even Earth''s strongest could toss around dire wolves twelve times in a row. Truly remarkable!¡°


    Mr. Kim interjected£¬¡°Mr. Caron£¬ can you dig into that boy''s background?¡°


    Caron£¬ smiling£¬ swiped to bring up A-Lai''s information. After a brief hesitation£¬ he said£¬¡°This boy is quite mysterious. His origins are unknown£¬ and no one knows who his parents are. He arrived in this village five years ago£¬ brought by a monk from a temple.¡°


    Mr. Kim''s curiosity was piqued.¡°Oh£¬ a boy with a mysterious past! Can we see this enigmatic temple?¡°


    ---

 14

    As the sun set£¬ its golden rays bathed the sky£¬ turning it a deep crimson. The Crescent Spring£¬ a pearl amidst the desert sands£¬ shimmered in the fading light. A gentle breeze ruffled the water''s surface£¬ creating sparkling ripples. Surrounding the spring were rolling sand dunes£¬ dancing in the wind like waves of gold£¬ blending with the glistening water to create a serene and mystical landscape. The slender willows swayed gracefully£¬ their shadows stretching long£¬ weaving an ancient£¬ enchanting tapestry with the sunset.


    On the shores of the Crescent Spring stood an ancient temple£¬ seemingly frozen in time£¬ bearing the marks of history. Legend has it that a Buddhist master built this temple a thousand years ago£¬ bringing wisdom and religious solemnity from far-off lands.


    Inside the temple£¬ a middle-aged man sat in a tranquil meditation room. Ancient scrolls surrounded him£¬ piled high£¬ forming a vast sea of knowledge chronicling centuries of wisdom and history. The soft light filtered through the window lattice£¬ casting a gentle glow that illuminated his focused face.


    His deep eyes seemed to pierce through the mists of time£¬ reading the chronicles of ages past. Ancient scriptures lay heavily on the wooden desk beside him£¬ their yellowed pages and worn edges bearing the marks of time''s passage.


    In this serene place£¬ the ancient temple exuded an air of calm and mystery£¬ as if time itself had stood still£¬ preserving this sacred ground in a millennia-long peace.


    The middle-aged man was named Mo Lin£¬ with a square face£¬ graying temples£¬ and glasses perched on his nose£¬ deeply engrossed in deciphering ancient texts. Mo Lin was a distinguished scholar of ancient languages£¬ his research interests branching into various disciplines like a sprawling tree. The descriptions of the future in ancient texts left him astounded£¬ as if the ancients had witnessed the future and left clues for posterity.


    However£¬ this passion seemed out of place in his work environment. His boss£¬ a pragmatic man£¬ valued only traditional theories and research that could be published in prestigious journals. Mo Lin didn''t want to spend his life deciphering pottery or stone inscriptions£¬ speculating on their sounds and meanings£¬ then publishing his findings in journals.


    Thus£¬ most of Mo Lin''s time was spent in idle contemplation£¬ like a fossil buried under the sands of time. Yet£¬ this restricted freedom opened another world for him. From the Sumerian King''s List to the Book of Daniel£¬ these descriptions of the future broadened Mo Lin''s horizons.


    In his recent reading list£¬ he discovered a 2000-year-old book£¬ the¡°Classic of Mountains and Seas£¬¡° which described ancient people seemingly viewing the Earth from space£¬ leisurely exploring the continents of Asia£¬ Africa£¬ and the Americas£¬ leaving detailed records of local customs and landscapes.


    In a 1400-year-old Chinese book£¬ the¡°Tui Bei Tu£¬¡° he found illustrations and texts depicting future events. In a cave in the Bayan Har Mountains£¬ he discovered ancient stone discs possibly recording prehistoric information. An 800-year-old book£¬ the¡°Miscellaneous Morsels from Xiyang£¬¡° vividly described the moon''s terrain as if seen firsthand. In a rare Qing dynasty manuscript£¬ he read about people traveling through space£¬ documenting their observations.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    These seemingly mythical books opened Mo Lin''s eyes to a new world£¬ as if diving into the deep sea to discover unimaginable wonders£¬ also unlocking his deepest fears.


    The deep furrows between Mo Lin''s brows showed his intense contemplation. Are humans the rulers of this world or prisoners in a cage? Or perhaps lowly creatures in the universe? Are these alien intelligences benevolent or malevolent? Is humanity''s fate in their hands? What is the destiny of mankind? Is it predestined£¬ or is it unpredictable?


    His eyes were deep and focused£¬ hoping to find answers within the pages. Lost in the sea of books£¬ a month had passed unknowingly. Time can be long or short£¬ especially when engrossed in something fascinating; decades can feel like a moment.


    -----------------


    The neon red digits in the sky displayed¡°209£¬¡° indicating the number of survivors left¡ªfar more than the gamblers had anticipated. This unexpected turn had cost many of them their wagers£¬ leaving them in foul moods. They resembled hungry beasts£¬ eagerly awaiting a blood-soaked spectacle. Some tapped their fingers on the tables£¬ synchronizing with the violent rhythm unfolding on the screen£¬ the rapid drumming seeming to urge for even more ferocious slaughter. Others erupted in profanity£¬ dissatisfied with the previous round of carnage£¬ feeling that the occasional screams and spurts of blood were insufficient to ignite their fervor.


    ¡°Too slow! It''s too slow!¡° one gambler roared£¬ his eyes bloodshot with excitement.


    ¡°How can these beasts be so weak? They''re supposed to be top-level hunters!¡° another gambler complained£¬ a bloodthirsty smile playing on his lips.


    ¡°When will they finally wipe out these villagers?!¡° more voices joined in£¬ each comment dripping with a craving for violence and a thirst for blood.


    These voices filled Caron''s ears like a piercing noise£¬ increasing his pressure. He knew that if he failed to satisfy the twisted desires of these viewers£¬ his show''s ratings would plummet. He glanced at the list of top-tier hunters. If he deployed them in the second round£¬ the live game would end prematurely£¬ losing its appeal. Yet£¬ choosing hunters too weak wouldn''t appease these depraved appetites. It seemed he had no choice but to go for the most ruthless ones.


    Caron lit a cigarette£¬ taking a deep drag in an effort to calm himself before enthusiastically continuing the broadcast£¬¡°Dear brothers£¬ the next round of the hunting game is about to begin. This time£¬ I''ve prepared a top-tier hunter¡ªthe ultimate mechanical assassin. They''re rulers of both air and ground. Will their opponents£¬ by some miraculous luck£¬ survive again? Let''s watch and find out!¡°


    Votes flooded the screen£¬ with red letters flashing overwhelmingly£¬ making it clear without detailed scrutiny:¡°We want to see if that boy can defeat your trash again!¡°


    Mr. Kim took a sip of his gin and joined in£¬¡°Alright£¬ we will fulfill your wishes. Now£¬ let''s look at the betting odds. The boy against the mechanical assassins is at 3:7. Seems like many have little faith in the boy! He was the dark horse last time£¬ defying all our expectations. Do you still want to bet on the mechanical assassins?¡°


    Caron tried to remain calm as he looked at the screen£¬ muttering under his breath£¬¡°These twisted freaks£¬¡° he gritted his teeth£¬¡°a hundred mechanical assassins against one boy. You are the real monsters!¡° He felt like a puppet on strings£¬ manipulated by these gamblers£¬ forced to meet their every demand£¬ no matter how much it meant crossing moral boundaries.¡°If it weren''t for making a living£¬ I would never indulge your sick tastes.¡°


    Suddenly£¬ he received a phone call. Caron handed the camera over to Mr. Kim£¬ who tapped his earpiece before answering the call£¬ nodding repeatedly in deference.


    ---

 15

    In the top-floor room of the school building£¬ the teachers and a few villagers were tending to the wounded.


    Some say that when three women get together£¬ it''s like a hundred ducks quacking. In the corner£¬ there were 200 ducks chatting£¬¡°I just got angry with my husband this morning. He never helps with the chores. Even if the oil bottle at home falls over£¬ he won''t pick it up. I''m almost ready to divorce that lazy bum£¬ but now I just want to go home and cook him a meal!¡± Her voice carried a mix of helplessness and tenderness.


    ¡°Yeah!¡± another woman said£¬¡°Every day something bad happens to me. Today£¬ a bird pooped on my head£¬ and tomorrow£¬ the clothes I hung out to dry will be blown away. Every time£¬ I get angry for half a day£¬ but now£¬ I feel like I''m just a boring woman who complains about nothing!¡± Her tone was full of self-mockery.


    ¡°Isn''t it strange? Normally£¬ when I see a wolf£¬ I get scared to death. Today£¬ that wolf was so close to me¡­¡± She gestured with her hands to illustrate£¬¡°I wasn''t scared at all!¡± Her eyes sparkled with a mix of surprise and confusion.


    ¡°Ladies£¬ keep your voices down. There are injured people here. Go outside if you want to chat!¡± a male villager said with a smile. His voice was deep and gentle£¬ trying to ease the atmosphere. The women rolled their eyes at him and then moved to another room£¬ continuing their chatter£¬ leaving him shaking his head in resignation.


    Dan lay on a makeshift bed of desks£¬ his chest£¬ arms£¬ and legs wrapped like a mummy£¬ yet he still grinned£¬ boasting loudly about his exploits to the girls around him.


    ¡°Ha! Did you see that punch of mine? Sent that bastard flying!¡°


    Sitting in the corner£¬ A-Lai''s arm burned with pain£¬ already bandaged in pristine white. He felt lucky today¡ªjust in time£¬ that special girl was nearby. Being classmates£¬ it was natural for her to tend to his wounds. She was cleaning his shoulder wound£¬ the antiseptic stinging and making A-Lai wince slightly.


    ¡°Does it hurt?¡° she asked£¬ slowing her movements and looking apologetic.


    ¡°Not at all!¡° A-Lai smiled understandingly£¬ his heart racing faster than during the fight£¬ a warm sweetness welling up inside him.¡°She really cares about me£¬¡° he thought.


    Dan watched jealously as the girl tended to A-Lai''s wounds with delicate precision£¬ comparing it to the rough£¬ bark-like hands of the old woman quickly bandaging him. His envy and bitterness grew.


    ¡°Hey£¬ girl£¬ after you finish with A-Lai£¬ could you bandage me too?¡° Dan said£¬ grinning cheekily.


    The girl glanced at Dan£¬ her face flushed with anger.¡°If it weren''t for you£¬ A-Lai wouldn''t be hurt. How dare you ask me to bandage you?!¡° She returned to tending A-Lai£¬¡°Be more careful next time£¬ don''t just charge in recklessly!¡°


    ¡°Yeah£¬¡° A-Lai blushed£¬ avoiding her gaze£¬ though her hair brushed against his face£¬ its fragrance filling his senses£¬ making him miss her words entirely.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    ¡°Fools have their own kind of luck!¡° Dan sighed loudly£¬ jealousy evident in his voice.


    The girl shot Dan a glare£¬ packed up her things£¬ and softly told A-Lai£¬¡°Come by the classroom later. I brought some treats£¬ including some for you!¡° With that£¬ she left.


    Dan''s ears perked up at the mention of treats£¬ his mouth watering as he called after her£¬¡°Do I get some too?¡° But she didn''t even look back.


    A-Lai looked at the pretty bow on his bandage£¬ feeling conflicted. After a moment£¬ he stood to leave but then turned to Dan.


    ¡°Dan£¬ do you think Master will come?¡°


    ¡°Brother£¬ I don''t know if Master will come£¬ but I know she definitely likes you!¡° Dan said£¬ winking.


    ¡°Stop joking!¡° A-Lai''s face turned red as he nervously glanced around£¬ only relaxing when he saw the girl had disappeared inside.


    Dan laughed heartily£¬¡°I also know you definitely like her!¡° All the troubles of young love were written plainly on his face.


    Suddenly£¬ three distant£¬ thunderous chimes echoed through the night sky£¬ and the countdown clock reset to 60 minutes. Everyone stared at the sky in fear£¬ as if awaiting their fate.


    Outside£¬ the air buzzed with the sound of countless mosquitoes coming from all directions. A-Lai anxiously looked out the window. Dan''s expression changed as he urged A-Lai£¬¡°Hurry back to the classroom and protect your classmates!¡°


    ¡°What about you?¡°


    ¡°Don''t worry£¬ I won''t die!¡° Dan sat up£¬ stretching his limbs as if fully recovered.


    As A-Lai reached the door£¬ Dan called out£¬¡°A-Lai£¬ stay alive!¡°


    -----------------


    All the surveillance devices focused outside the school building£¬ where the sky was thick with flying machines. Unlike Earth''s drones£¬ these were metal discs£¬ the size of a bowl£¬ spinning rapidly. Equipped with surveillance and computing equipment on their undersides£¬ and metal legs for agile movement on the ground£¬ these autonomous killing machines were seeking attack angles to begin their slaughter.


    Mr. Kim stood before the observation screen£¬ a cold smile playing on his lips. He had always admired the precision and ruthlessness of machinery£¬ and these aerial killers were his ideal tools.¡°The design is simply perfect£¬¡° he said£¬¡°killers that follow you like shadows. There are hundreds of these machines surrounding the building now; it''s chilling.¡° His eyes narrowed as he scanned the survivors on the screen£¬ a sneer of disdain crossing his face.¡°Look at the odds. It seems no one has much hope for these survivors.¡°


    Caron added fuel to the fire£¬¡°These aerial killers can easily slice through 5 millimeters of iron. I saw one turn a fat guy into sausage slices. Just thinking about it makes me sick.¡° His eyes glinted with mischief as he raised his voice£¬¡°And our opponents? A bunch of primitive natives. What are their weapons? Table legs? Books?¡° His remark drew a burst of raucous laughter£¬ and Caron felt quite pleased with his humor. Yet£¬ deep down£¬ he felt a twinge of unease¡ªthese¡°primitive natives¡± had already proven their resilience and cunning.


    As the countdown clock ticked past five minutes£¬ the aerial killers couldn''t wait any longer. A few of them shattered the first-floor windows and stormed into the building. The first floor was mostly empty£¬ with most villagers gathered on the third and fourth floors. The principal£¬ sweating with anxiety£¬ had been directing everyone to turn over tables and use them to block the windows£¬ moving room by room with warnings.


    Upon hearing the sound of breaking glass£¬ A-Lai knew trouble was coming. Responding to the principal''s loud calls from upstairs£¬ he and his classmates quickly constructed defenses with desks and chairs in the precious few minutes they had. Soon£¬ the air around them was filled with the sound of wind whistling and the gleam of cold metal. The aerial killers£¬ like harbingers of death£¬ flew toward the windows with relentless menace. These intelligent flying machines hooked their slender metal legs onto the boards and window frames£¬ their spinning discs cutting through anything that stood in their way.

 16

    In an instant£¬ shattered glass flew everywhere outside the building£¬ glinting in the firelight like a chaotic spray of Gatling gunfire. The bullet-like metal monsters whizzed overhead and past the villagers at high speed£¬ their formation collapsing instantly. Some rolled on the ground in terror£¬ others screamed in pain£¬ while some fought desperately with their tools£¬ trying to fend off the machines. The scene was chaotic£¬ a mix of screams and cries blending into a suffocating cacophony.


    On the second-floor corridor£¬ a row of flying killers arranged themselves in three neat lines£¬ stretching across the hallway''s width. Suddenly£¬ they charged forward£¬ slicing through several fleeing villagers in an instant£¬ blood spraying and bodies scattering.


    As the countdown in the sky ticked past fifteen minutes£¬ A-Lai and his classmates£¬ along with the villagers£¬ braced the tables with their shoulders. Despite this£¬ bullet-like projectiles still punched through the tables£¬ moving so fast they were a blur.


    ¡°We can¡¯t hold on much longer!¡± a villager shouted£¬ his voice cracking under the strain. He felt the relentless pounding through the table£¬ accompanied by the ear-piercing screech of metal against metal£¬ driving him to the brink of collapse.


    ¡°Move aside!¡± Alai and Little Fly hauled another table over£¬ bracing it against the one that was about to splinter. These sturdy£¬ hand-crafted wooden tables were strong£¬ but the air was thick with a nauseating smell of burning£¬ growing more intense by the second.


    A-Lai gritted his teeth£¬ the cacophony of cutting and pounding filling his ears. Sweat poured down his forehead like rain£¬ his eyes scanning every potential weak spot with laser focus£¬ his heart pounding with vigilance and tension.¡°Quick£¬ Little Fly£¬ bring more tables! Girls£¬ splash water on the tables and find some wet cloths to seal the gaps!¡± His gaze involuntarily followed the slender£¬ busy figure£¬ then quickly darted away.


    The scene was a whirlwind of frantic activity£¬ the villagers working together in a desperate bid to fortify their defenses. The oppressive heat and acrid smoke made every breath a struggle£¬ but they pressed on£¬ driven by sheer determination and the will to survive.


    ¡°Calm down£¬ stay calm£¬¡° he kept telling himself£¬¡°I must protect everyone£¬ including her.¡°


    Thanks to the principal''s quick thinking£¬ a few tables formed a makeshift defensive shield. Young villagers hid behind the desks£¬ though cries of pain and the sound of rolling bodies still occasionally broke through. The relentless pounding on the tabletops kept them from raising their heads£¬ the continuous¡°thud thud thud¡° echoing ominously. As time passed£¬ the aerial whirring grew more intense£¬ like a meticulously planned shower of ninja stars.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    ¡°Thankfully£¬ the principal''s mind is sharp£¬¡° Dan thought as he watched the principal£¬ a mix of relief and suspicion stirring within him£¬¡°But how did he seem to know everything beforehand?¡°


    A sudden£¬ dull¡°thunk¡° resounded£¬ a metal disc embedding deeply into a wooden post£¬ still spinning and narrowly missing Dan''s shoulder.¡°Not good!¡° Dan cried out. The attack had come from behind£¬ indicating the killers had infiltrated the building. Dizzy Dan grabbed a wooden stick and limped to the fourth-floor corridor. The hundred-meter-long hallway was pitch dark£¬ but he could clearly hear the buzzing and occasionally catch the glint of metal.


    Dan''s eyes widened£¬ standing in the corridor like a lone hero£¬ using his stick to draw the flying machines'' attention. Each time he knocked a metal disc away£¬ he let out a triumphant howl. Though he appeared relaxed£¬ he was intensely calculating every move. The metal discs£¬ swift£¬ cunning£¬ and deadly£¬ resembled ninja stars£¬ their trajectory predictable. Dan deftly shattered the discs with his stick£¬ even managing to hit some long-range targets£¬ his victorious howls echoing through the corridor.


    ¡°Who''s the best fighter in the village? Now you all see£¬¡° Dan thought£¬ though he couldn''t voice this out loud£¬ wrapped in bandages as he was. He silently cheered himself on.


    The countdown in the sky had inexplicably jumped to 28:00. At that moment£¬ a loud crash echoed as a classroom door on the lower floor collapsed. Several villagers tumbled out£¬ pursued by blood-stained metal discs that relentlessly sliced through their flesh. The sight of blood seemed to excite the metal monsters£¬ drawing more of them. Unable to get close£¬ the discs hovered around£¬ continuously spinning and cutting.


    Suddenly£¬ the discs at the center of the vortex emitted a blinding white light from their high-speed rotation. Within the light£¬ a blurred figure struggled desperately before collapsing in a bloody heap. Organs were sliced into tiny pieces£¬ red£¬ white£¬ and yellow bits trembling slightly on the ground.


    The horrifying scene drove several students to frantically burst into A-Lai''s classroom£¬ hiding under the desks. The open door left the students fighting by the windows in terror as the metal discs floating in the air loomed larger in their eyes.


    In an instant£¬ the air in the room grew thick and still. Assassins seemed to materialize out of thin air¡ªthree£¬ seven£¬ ten of them¡ªyet they did not immediately attack. Their cameras transmitted the images back to the mothership£¬ and Caron was overjoyed£¬ realizing he had found his goldmine!


    ¡°Dear bros£¬ I''m thrilled to see that valiant boy again! Opposite him now are ten killing machines£¬ and more assassins are on their way. The boy''s weapon was damaged in the last fight£¬ oh£¬ I see it now£¬ it''s leaning crookedly against the table there¡ªoh£¬ perfect to make a bow!¡° Caron continued to flaunt his humor.


    Mr. Kim grew excited as well.¡°Let''s add a bet immediately£¬¡° he checked the time£¬¡°there are still 20 minutes left on the countdown. Will the boy survive£¬ or will he be taken down by our top-tier assassins? Place your bets now! Will we witness another miraculous escape?¡°


    Sebastian watched the screen with growing excitement. With a quick tap of his finger£¬ he placed a big bet on A-Lai''s survival. He trusted the boy and didn''t think these machines could kill him. Besides£¬ from a showbiz angle£¬ it wouldn¡¯t make sense to lose such a promising figure too early. The money Sebastian wagered was a lot£¬ but he knew he''d win it back in no time. To him£¬ this was just a way to pass the time£¬ and making money like this was even more fun.


    ---

 17

    The classroom was plunged into confusion; everyone stood frozen. A-Lai was the first to react£¬ flipping like a giant fish breaking the water''s surface£¬ grabbing two scattered pieces of clothing from the ground£¬ and wielding them like short sticks. The damp clothes£¬ in his hands£¬ swung with such force that the ends quivered as they struck the flying discs£¬ shattering them into twisted fragments that fell to the ground.


    A-Lai''s master had once demonstrated such profound inner strength. He had placed one end of a spear on an egg and the other on a stone£¬ then lightly flicked the spear. The gentle force traveled along the spear£¬ shattering the stone while leaving the egg intact.


    Though A-Lai couldn''t reach his master''s level£¬ his technique of using wet clothes to break the flying devices was nonetheless impressive. If his master saw A-Lai''s performance£¬ he would be astonished£¬ for it had taken him thirty years to master this skill£¬ while A-Lai had learned it in just a few years.


    As the flying devices clattered to the ground£¬ the students finally snapped out of their daze. They picked up anything they could find and began fighting the metal monsters. The strength of a hero£¬ whether an adult or a youth£¬ was immense. In no time£¬ the flying assassins were struck down£¬ scattered across the floor.


    A-Lai quickly moved to the heavy wooden door£¬ shut it firmly£¬ and bolted it. The students instinctively gathered around him£¬ their hero£¬ clapping him on the back in celebration. The joy of narrowly escaping death was unimaginable. But just as they breathed a sigh of relief£¬ a louder buzzing sound came from behind. A-Lai had no time to react£¬ he flicked his wrist£¬ sending the wet clothes flying£¬ smashing three more discs£¬ then leaped forward£¬ shielding the students with his body£¬ shouting£¬¡°Get down!¡°


    Yet it was too late. A large hole had appeared in the window£¬ and the flying assassins outside had adopted a more sinister tactic. The metal discs now split into two£¬ with the upper disc flying out like a bullet in a parabolic arc. Sharp discs continuously flew in through the hole£¬ some slicing into villagers'' bodies£¬ drawing sprays of blood£¬ others embedding into the wooden walls£¬ sending up puffs of smoke.


    Seeing the dire situation£¬ A-Lai gritted his teeth£¬ stood up£¬ and swung his wet clothes with all his might£¬ desperately trying to fend off the incoming discs. His movements grew sluggish£¬ blood gushing from his back and shoulders£¬ staining his clothes red as new wounds reopened old ones.


    As A-Lai''s injuries worsened£¬ his movements slowed£¬ and the number of survivors in the classroom dwindled. The flying assassins outside began a suicide attack£¬ crashing into the windows and walls£¬ creating thumb-sized holes with the impact. Debris flew£¬ smoke filled the room£¬ and the shattered wooden splinters and metal fragments became deadly bullets£¬ mowing down the remaining standing students like wheat.


    Just before A-Lai lost consciousness£¬ he felt a soft£¬ cold hand pull him to a corner under the window£¬ a blind spot for the shooters. Leaning against the wall£¬ his breathing rapid and face pale£¬ a pair of trembling hands pressed against his wound£¬ trying to stop the bleeding. A-Lai found himself in an unprecedented predicament£¬ a wave of helplessness washing over him. Was it all going to end here? He weakly murmured£¬¡°Find a chance¡­ escape¡­ find the principal¡­!¡° He felt himself fading£¬ but the soft hands holding his didn''t let go.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    -----------------


    In a classroom upstairs£¬ the principal faced the same nightmarish scene. Outside the windows£¬ swarms of flying killers descended like crazed hornets£¬ launching themselves repeatedly against the wooden panels with relentless force. Each impact echoed with a low£¬ thunderous crack£¬ like the detonation of firecrackers£¬ deafening and ominous. The window upstairs was riddled with seven or eight holes£¬ yet the tireless suicide drones continued their relentless assault£¬ wave after wave.


    Inside the classroom£¬ the principal gripped a desk with both hands£¬ raising it high above his head as if it were a shield£¬ desperately trying to ward off the impending danger. His face was set with grim determination£¬ beads of cold sweat trickling down his brow£¬ though a fierce resolve still burned in his eyes. Behind him£¬ the physics teacher sprang into action. Despite his slight frame£¬ he lifted a wounded student and£¬ straining under the weight£¬ dashed towards safety. Another villager followed closely£¬ charging into the classroom under covering fire to rescue the next student£¬ moving with the urgency of a battlefield medic.


    As the last injured student was finally moved to safety£¬ the flying killers outside seemed to zero in on the source of resistance. Their focus shifted£¬ and suddenly£¬ the principal¡¯s makeshift shield became the prime target. Without warning£¬ multiple drones launched from every direction£¬ converging with deadly precision. In that instant£¬ the impact struck with the force of an exploding shell£¬ the air ringing with a shattering blast. The principal was hurled across the room£¬ crashing hard to the ground. Blood spurted from his mouth£¬ splattering across his rough-spun shirt£¬ staining the fabric a deep crimson. Thin rivulets of blood streamed from his nose and ears£¬ tracing down his face before dripping onto the floor£¬ a grim testament to the carnage that surrounded him.


    ¡°Boom!¡± A table£¬ riddled with holes from the bombardment£¬ crashed to the ground near the window£¬ making a dull thud. The window stood wide open£¬ allowing the cold wind to howl through the room. In the dimly lit classroom£¬ only four or five students remained£¬ huddled in the corner beneath the window£¬ their wide eyes fixed in terror on the shadows cast by the airborne machines outside. Each shadow seemed like the scythe of death itself£¬ ready to sweep in at any moment and bring a swift£¬ merciless end to everyone inside.


    A few girls cowered under a nearby desk£¬ their stifled sobs barely audible. Tears streamed down their cheeks£¬ falling to the floor like the silent mourning of their impending fate. A male student held his head in his hands£¬ too terrified to face the final moments. Through his trembling sobs came a timid voice£¬¡°Mom£¬ I''m sorry!¡°There were only two minutes left until the countdown ended. But it wouldn¡¯t take two minutes¡ªjust thirty seconds£¬ and these defenseless students would be slaughtered without mercy.


    ¡°A-Lai£¬ A-Lai!¡° The girl''s cries tore through the night£¬ a sudden jolt awakening the drowsy A-Lai.


    Never had A-Lai been so close to death; every moment was precious. In a flash£¬ meaningful memories surfaced.


    He recalled a warm afternoon when he had tattled on the girl next door for sneaking snacks during class. The principal had lightly scolded her in the hallway£¬ and her angry glare was etched in A-Lai''s memory. After the principal left£¬ the girl£¬ broom in hand£¬ had stormed towards him£¬ but seeing him flee in panic£¬ she couldn''t help but laugh. A-Lai would always remember her youthful£¬ beautiful smile£¬ like a blooming flower.


    He also remembered a midday nap when he lay with his head on his arms£¬ squinting at the scenery outside the window. The girl had glanced at him£¬ quietly walked over£¬ and drawn the thin curtain. At the time£¬ he thought she was angry£¬ not wanting him to look outside. Now he understood£¬ she was worried the bright sunlight would disturb him.


    In his heart£¬ A-Lai shouted£¬¡°She''s been caring for me all along£¬ and I didn''t know!¡° Despite his grave injuries£¬ a faint sweet smile appeared on his face.¡°She likes me too!¡°


    A-Lai''s heart pounded like a drum£¬ the sobs of the girls and the sound of his own breathing filling his ears. His gaze swept the room£¬ desperately searching for any means of escape£¬ but every option seemed hopeless.

 18

    The crimson countdown in the sky ticked away like drops of blood£¬ each second bringing the shadow of death closer. Yet outside the window£¬ the flying assassins remained in the air£¬ perfectly still£¬ as if waiting for a final command. The spectators'' breaths quickened£¬ their eyes fixed on these cold£¬ unfeeling machines£¬ with excitement building up. Some could no longer hold back and shouted out loud.


    ¡°Kill! Kill! Kill!¡° Their cries rose like a wave£¬ reminding one of the ancient Roman crowds cheering on their gladiators. Back then£¬ the gladiators marched toward their fate£¬ their blades gleaming as they mercilessly executed those who had failed.


    Suddenly£¬ the flying assassins moved! Their bodies shivered slightly£¬ as if they had received some silent command£¬ and then they began to glide through the air in smooth arcs. To everyone''s shock£¬ they did not attack. Instead£¬ in perfect order£¬ they left the battlefield one by one£¬ retreating with surprising precision.


    ¡°How is this possible?¡° a murmur of disbelief spread through the crowd.


    ¡°Are these stupid machines broken?!¡° someone shouted angrily. The outcome had indeed caught everyone off guard£¬ turning their excitement into confusion and frustration.


    At that moment£¬ the deep toll of a bell rang out from the distant sky.¡°Bong£¬ bong£¬ bong...¡° With each chime£¬ it was clear: the hunt was over.


    A torrent of insults and curses flooded the livestream. Caron coughed lightly£¬¡°Well£¬ I can''t believe my eyes either. These smart machines somehow decided the room was empty!¡° He didn''t believe his own words£¬ but he knew it didn''t matter if others believed him; as long as he did. In truth£¬ only he knew that his boss£¬ Sebastian£¬ had given him clear instructions before the hunt began: no matter what£¬ keep the boy alive. He is our cash cow.


    Caron had silently dispatched two of the latest high-tech invisible drones provided by his boss. One drone emitted a cloaking wave£¬ covering the classroom and making it appear lifeless to the assassins'' sensors. The other drone sent out barely visible blue waves£¬ scanning A-Lai from head to toe£¬ quickly repairing his injured body. A-Lai inexplicably sat up£¬ his wounds visibly healing and his strength rapidly returning. The beautiful eyes that watched A-Lai''s swift recovery were so astonished they let go of his body£¬ staring at him as if he were a monster£¬ forgetting their previous shyness.


    A-Lai clenched his fists£¬ feeling stronger than before his injuries. What was going on? Tonight''s bizarre events surpassed all the strange occurrences he had encountered in his life.


    ---


    At the same time£¬ in the Moon Lake Temple£¬ a monk hurried to the abbot''s side and whispered something in his ear. The abbot''s eyes widened in surprise£¬¡°Does the master know?¡° he asked.


    ¡°Not yet£¬¡° the monk replied. The abbot£¬ hearing this£¬ rushed out of the room£¬ abandoning his usual calm demeanor.


    In another part of the temple£¬ Mo Lin was chatting and drinking tea with an elderly man in tattered clothes. Since leaving the meditation room that afternoon£¬ Mo Lin had been longing to share his thoughts with someone. He didn''t dare disturb the abbot£¬ so he looked around the empty courtyard and saw an old monk who had just finished sweeping£¬ resting on a tree stump. The old monk wore a worn-out£¬ yellow-brown robe£¬ his hands calloused from years of hard work£¬ and a large broom lay beside him. He now only performed physical tasks like sweeping and making tea£¬ much like a retired civil servant with no chance of promotion.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    Mo Lin thought to himself£¬ this old monk seemed to be wasting away his remaining years. As the saying goes£¬¡°If you hear the Tao in the morning£¬ you can die in the evening£¬¡° Mo Lin mused that what he had discovered could save this old monk''s unremarkable life.


    ¡°Shifu£¬ could you make me a cup of tea?¡° Mo Lin began£¬ looking for a way to start the conversation. The old monk opened his eyes£¬ filled with serenity and calmness. He smiled without saying a word£¬ stood up£¬ and brought over a set of coarse pottery teapots and cups£¬ then began to stoke the fire and boil water.


    ¡°Shifu£¬ you won''t believe what I just discovered in a book£¬¡° Mo Lin said eagerly. The old monk seemed not to hear him£¬ only smiling warmly and waiting for him to continue.


    ¡°Shifu£¬ you sweep and make tea every day in this temple. If I tell you what I''ve found£¬ you''ll realize you''ve wasted your entire life£¬¡° Mo Lin habitually used a provocative approach to arouse the old monk''s interest.


    ¡°Oh£¬ is there something better than jasmine tea?¡° The old monk finally seemed intrigued by Mo Lin''s words.


    Although the old monk''s casual attitude slightly annoyed Mo Lin£¬ he felt sorry for the old man£¬ still boiling water and sweeping at his age. So£¬ he patiently began to explain his discovery.


    ¡°On this day 2600 years ago£¬ the disciples of Buddha were solemnly kneeling before him£¬ the air thick with sorrow. Buddha''s breath was faint£¬ and his appearance had lost its usual radiance. His chief disciple£¬ Ananda£¬ was filled with unease£¬ kneeling by Buddha''s side£¬ repeatedly seeking guidance. Buddha''s voice£¬ filled with compassion£¬ described the future world he saw.


    ¡°Over the next millennia£¬ human hearts would degenerate£¬ the earth plagued by diseases£¬ floods rampant£¬ and disasters frequent. Prices would soar globally£¬ making everyday life increasingly difficult. Nations would constantly be at war£¬ with people slaughtering each other for power and scarce resources. Meanwhile£¬ the secular world would pursue extreme pleasures£¬ luxurious temples£¬ and extravagant monks straying from the essence of the Dharma.


    ¡°At this time£¬ Mara£¬ seeing an opportunity£¬ would descend from his realm with an army£¬ bringing advanced technology and terrifying weapons. His greatest amusement would be manipulating human hearts£¬ watching these failed creations of the gods reveal their darkest£¬ most vile sides£¬ struggling to survive in arenas£¬ killing each other until none remained standing.


    ¡°In such an environment£¬ people''s minds would be oppressed£¬ and compassion and care would seem forgotten in a gloomy world. Malevolence and ill-will would be omnipresent£¬ like an invisible plague. Human lifespans would shorten under the dual pressures of war and living costs. In this chaotic era£¬ evil deeds would become commonplace£¬ and evildoers would be as numerous as grains of sand in the sea. Those kind individuals£¬ their voices and actions would be precious but rare. The Buddha''s teachings would suffer corruption£¬ and Buddhist scriptures would be deliberately mixed with false ones. People would gild mud and straw£¬ worshiping them as sacred in temples. This era would be known as the Five Turbid Eons£¬ where the demonic path flourished£¬ and countless practitioners strayed further from the true path.¡°


    Mo Lin''s heart was filled with boundless sorrow and worry.¡°Isn''t the current world exactly as the Buddha described£¬ the Five Turbid Eons? Recently£¬ celestial phenomena have been occurring frequently. I don''t understand why the Buddha£¬ having foreseen all this£¬ didn''t directly provide a solution or£¬ with his supreme compassion£¬ end the calamity. Instead£¬ he waits for Maitreya Buddha to descend and re-educate the world?¡°


    As the water on the corner brazier boiled£¬ the old monk removed the kettle from the fire and waited for it to cool. He took a small pinch of jasmine tea and placed it in a large earthenware tea caddy.


    Mo Lin continued with his worries£¬¡°The Buddha predicted that only with the reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha would this chaotic world gradually return to normal. Before entering Nirvana£¬ the Buddha entrusted two of his relics to his disciples£¬ instructing them to pass them on to the future reincarnated Maitreya Buddha. When Maitreya Buddha accepts the relics£¬ he will awaken to the memories of his past lives and begin a new mission to save the world. What if something goes wrong with the transmission of these relics? Wouldn''t it mean eternal darkness like an endless night?¡°

 19

    ¡°Dear donor£¬ have some tea£¬¡° the elderly monk offered£¬ handing over a cup of freshly brewed tea.


    Mo Lin instinctively took a sip but quickly spit it out.¡°It''s too hot!¡° he exclaimed.


    The old monk smiled gently£¬ continuing to sip his tea unhurriedly.¡°Doesn''t it burn you?¡° Mo Lin asked£¬ puzzled.


    ¡°A cup of tea at 150 degrees Fahrenheit may feel hot to some£¬ cool to others£¬ and just right to someone else£¬¡° the monk said£¬ smiling.¡°The temperature remains constant£¬ but what fluctuates is our perception.¡° Mo Lin was taken aback by the wisdom in the monk¡¯s words.


    The monk continued£¬¡°Young man£¬ Buddha taught us that the age of decline will come regardless of our fear. The descent of Mara will happen irrespective of our judgment of good or bad.¡°


    ¡°In life£¬ we hope for good things to happen to us and bad things to happen to others. When we encounter evil people or bad events£¬ we wish they would immediately be sent to hell£¬ restoring peace to the world. However£¬ Buddha taught that the decline is inevitable£¬ and bad things will happen. In a forest£¬ there are meat-eating wolves£¬ lions£¬ and tigers£¬ as well as herbivorous rabbits£¬ goats£¬ and deer. Humanity is no different£¬ a mix of good and bad. This is nature.


    ¡°Do you believe wolves are inherently bad and rabbits inherently good?¡°


    Mo Lin wanted to nod but shook his head instead.


    ¡°Then£¬ should we resign ourselves to fate and do nothing?¡° Mo Lin asked£¬ confused.


    ¡°If practitioners give up and wait for Maitreya Buddha to save us£¬ we may wait a thousand years with no result£¬¡° the old monk said calmly.¡°Every heart holds a Buddha£¬ and only through diligent practice can we hope to meet him.¡° The monk¡¯s words felt like a breeze£¬ gently stirring Mo Lin''s heart.


    ¡°No matter the tribulations faced by Buddhism£¬ the true teachings will not be extinguished. Just as the Buddha''s artifacts are passed down£¬ they will endure trials.¡° The old monk sipped his tea peacefully.


    ¡°What Buddha truly wanted to teach us is to find inner peace and balance. Finding our Buddha nature frees us from the grip of time£¬ life£¬ death£¬ and emotional attachments. This is the ultimate heart£¬ beyond distinctions of right£¬ wrong£¬ holy£¬ or evil. I cannot find your Buddha nature for you. All things are transient£¬ like dew or lightning. Your path must be found by you.¡°


    Mo Lin felt as if he were standing before an endless abyss£¬ his thoughts chaotic yet enlightened. He knew this marked the beginning of an inner journey.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    ¡°Have I wasted these years?¡° Mo Lin asked.


    ¡°No£¬ we are fortunate to have read Buddha¡¯s teachings£¬ learning from the experiences of those who found their Buddha nature. We are already on the path£¬¡° the monk reassured. Mo Lin felt a surge of humility£¬ bowed£¬ and slowly retreated.


    The high monk closed his eyes£¬ the scent of jasmine tea filling the air£¬ creating a peaceful atmosphere. Suddenly£¬ the abbot£¬ usually surrounded by attendants£¬ approached alone£¬ squatting beside the monk as he did years ago.


    ¡°Master£¬ the Buddha child is in danger. I''ve sent help. Will everything be alright?¡° the abbot asked anxiously.


    The monk opened his eyes briefly before closing them again.¡°Do your best and trust in fate. Buddha has his plans.¡°


    ¡°Each Buddha child bears Buddha¡¯s mission£¬ drawing Mara''s attention. Where are the Buddha¡¯s artifacts hidden?¡° the abbot inquired.


    ¡°Only the Buddha child knows. When he awakens to his past and present£¬ he will understand the secret£¬¡° the monk replied.


    ¡°But what if something goes wrong again?¡° the abbot asked£¬ concerned.


    ¡°We have the seed of his eighth consciousness. Using the soul bottle£¬ we will find him again£¬¡° the monk answered.


    ¡°That¡¯s reassuring£¬¡° the abbot sighed with relief£¬ then worried£¬¡°How many times can the artifact be used to find the reincarnated Buddha?¡°


    ¡°The artifact¡¯s spirit is nearly exhausted£¬ and we£¬ the elders£¬ are aging. Any error could make it unusable. We may have only one chance left£¬¡° the monk said£¬ pouring tea for the abbot. The abbot held the warm cup£¬ remaining crouched and silent.


    After a moment£¬ the monk spoke calmly£¬¡°Everything is arranged by Buddha. Do not lose your inner peace.¡°


    The abbot forced a smile.¡°Master£¬ that''s my daily line. Don''t steal it.¡°


    The monk shrugged£¬ then regretfully added£¬¡°If another accident occurs£¬ we may never recognize the Buddha child£¬ even if he walks beside us.¡°


    ¡°Master£¬ the young Buddha child has drawn the attention of demons so early. They must already have ways to find him£¬¡° the abbot said worriedly.


    ¡°If we have artifacts£¬ Mara surely has ways to locate him too£¬¡° the monk acknowledged.


    ¡°Master£¬ can I secretly keep the seed of the eighth consciousness? I have a plan to hide him from Mara£¬¡° the abbot suggested.


    The monk¡¯s eyes opened wide.¡°Are you worried...?¡°


    ¡°Yes£¬ master. The heart¡¯s demon is the real enemy£¬ the demon''s specialty. We must be cautious. If the Buddha child finds the reincarnated Maitreya and restores his memories even a year early£¬ it will benefit all beings£¬¡° the abbot proposed cautiously.


    The abbot was known for his quick wit£¬ but the master often dismissed these small clevernesses as distractions from practice and spreading Dharma. This time£¬ the monk pondered£¬ then nodded slightly.


    As the abbot left£¬ he muttered£¬¡°I wonder£¬ if an ordinary person discovers at life''s end that they are supremely significant£¬ how would they feel?¡°


    The monk£¬ eyes still closed£¬ said£¬¡°Each of us has undergone one hundred thousand and eight kalpa disasters before coming into the world. Who says we are ordinary?¡°


    The abbot bowed and retreated slowly£¬ a faint smile on his lips. Inwardly£¬ he thought£¬ Master£¬ I may not understand Dharma as deeply as you£¬ but your wisdom isn¡¯t enough. No matter how we protect£¬ the demons'' influence over hearts surpasses ours. With the artifact''s power dwindling£¬ the Buddha child will inevitably fall into demonic hands. Perhaps£¬ it is time to collaborate with the demons.


    The abbot left£¬ smiling£¬ and glanced back at Mo Lin''s departing figure.

 20

    Sebastian called Caron over£¬ his face expressionless£¬ eyes dark and deep like an abyss.


    ¡°You''re hiding something from me!¡°


    Caron forced a smile£¬ trying to appear calm£¬¡°Boss£¬ me? Never!¡°


    Sebastian looked down at the arena£¬ where the two boys were locked in a fierce battle£¬ blood splattering the sand£¬ and said slowly£¬¡°What''s going on down there?¡°


    Caron was momentarily stunned but then whispered honestly£¬¡°Just a little side interest£¬ boss. On this planet£¬ there once existed a great being¡ªthey called him ''Buddha.'' When he departed£¬ he left behind two sacred relics£¬ waiting thousands of years for the next awakened ones to start a new era.¡°


    He paused£¬ a cruel smile curling his lips£¬¡°I got one of them¡ªNyx. The other relic is inside that boy.¡°


    Sebastian narrowed his eyes£¬ voice low£¬¡°You mean the relics merged with people?¡°


    ¡°Exactly!¡° Caron chuckled£¬¡°Imagine£¬ two brothers£¬ unknowingly fighting each other to the death£¬ only to find out they''re connected... quite the drama£¬ right?¡°


    Sebastian stroked his chin£¬ a meaningful smile spreading£¬¡°Hmm... indeed£¬ interesting.¡°


    Caron''s eyes lit up£¬ licking his lips£¬¡°Boss£¬ if you need more excitement£¬ I can add fuel to the fire! Once they''re both near death£¬ I¡¯ll reveal the truth. How about that?¡°


    Sebastian laughed heartily£¬ rare praise in his voice£¬¡°Good! That¡¯s a fine idea!¡°


    Excited£¬ Caron donned his battle robe and swiftly landed in the center of the arena. He coldly eyed Nyx£¬¡°How much longer are you going to make the audience wait£¬ loser?¡°


    Infuriated£¬ Nyx roared and charged like a storm£¬ the two boys clashing again£¬ painting the arena with blood.


    Sebastian now watched with interest£¬¡°How touching£¬ like a family reunion... in a rather dysfunctional family£¬ of course.¡°


    Caron stood coldly in the arena¡¯s center£¬ enjoying the impending brutality.


    Seeing Nyx struggle to speak£¬ Caron sneered£¬¡°Want to know why I lied to you? Because you''re an idiot! You believe anything I say.¡°


    He stepped closer£¬ voice dripping with cruel amusement£¬¡°If you weren''t stupid£¬ how could I use you to get the relics? Want to know how to get them? Easy¡ªmerge into one and then destroy yourselves. I''ll extract the relics from your spirits.¡°


    He sighed softly£¬¡°Oh£¬ and you haven''t noticed£¬ have you? Your spirits are the true relics!¡°


    A mad gleam in his eyes£¬ Caron smirked£¬¡°But Nyx£¬ I agree with something you said¡ªI don''t believe in gods either. But with these relics£¬ I can live for thousands of years. I¡¯ll witness whether gods exist.¡°


    Raising his fist£¬ his tone turned icy£¬¡°Before that£¬ though£¬ I¡¯ll destroy people''s faith£¬ trample their hope£¬ shatter their illusions... because I despise everyone''s stupidity and short-sightedness!¡°


    Caron''s gaze returned to Nyx£¬ a contemptuous smile on his lips£¬¡°As for you? Just a stupid monk¡­ no£¬ not even that! Dreaming of marriage and kids? You don¡¯t even know who you are! You''re just a vessel for the relic. If you start a family£¬ the relic will find a new host£¬ and you¡¯ll end up a fool.¡°


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Tapping his temple smugly£¬ he added£¬¡°Want to know how I know all this? Don¡¯t forget£¬ your intelligence can''t comprehend our smart machines. When data reaches 90%£¬ I know your every brainwave.¡°


    Caron laughed victoriously£¬¡°If I were you£¬ I''d kneel and beg for mercy now. If you¡¯re lucky£¬ I might show some pity¡­ actually£¬ no£¬ I¡¯m a cruel man.¡°


    His laugh echoed in the arena but was cut short by a cold voice£¬¡°What are you laughing at?¡°


    Alex narrowed his eyes£¬ coldly staring at the fool laughing in the center.


    Caron''s face froze¡ªthe battle wasn''t over£¬ but he¡¯d already lost himself in victory fantasies. He¡¯d laughed too early; it had all been in his head.


    In that split second of Caron''s distraction£¬ Alex struck without warning! His spear shot out like lightning£¬ but not at Nyx¡ªat Caron''s chest!


    Caron barely had time to process what was happening before his alien battle suit kicked into extreme defence mode. In a mere 0.1 seconds£¬ it had already analysed ten possible countermeasures and£¬ true to Caron¡¯s charmingly sadistic nature£¬ selected the most ruthless option¡ªhis armour clamped down on the incoming spear£¬ heating up in an instant until the tip melted into a useless puddle of molten metal. The poor spear never stood a chance.


    At the same time£¬ a web of searing-hot laser beams flickered to life around Alex£¬ forming a blazing sphere of doom. It pulsed menacingly£¬ tightening ever so slowly£¬ as if savouring the moment.


    Caron¡¯s laughter rang through the arena£¬ loud£¬ sharp£¬ and unbearably smug¡ªthe unmistakable sound of a man who truly believed he had won.


    ¡°Ha! You think you can sneak up on me? My suit gave me ten strategies in 0.1 seconds£¬ and I chose the most painful one! Soon£¬ you''ll be a puddle£¬ just like this spear!¡°


    -----------------


    Thirty minutes ago.


    Brooke¡¯s heart pounded violently against her ribs£¬ as if trying to break free. Her eyes darted across the familiar faces before finally landing on Alex and Jordan. They looked battered£¬ exhausted¡ªbut alive.


    And in that moment£¬ it hit her.


    Everything she had seen before was a lie.


    A fabricated illusion. A trap. Someone had pulled her into a twisted nightmare£¬ and she hadn¡¯t even realised it.


    Cold fear crawled down her spine. She took a shaky breath£¬ ready to rush forward¡ª


    A firm hand landed on her shoulder£¬ holding her in place.


    ¡°Not yet.¡±


    The voice didn¡¯t come from behind her. It came from inside her head. Deep£¬ steady£¬ and utterly inescapable£¬ like a ripple spreading through her consciousness.


    ¡°I need your help£¬¡± the voice continued.¡°To save Alex. But¡ªit amy put you in serious danger.¡±


    Brooke froze.


    She turned sharply to face the man behind her¡ªthe one who always carried himself with eerie elegance£¬ cold and controlled£¬ like a nobleman watching from a high tower.


    And yet¡­ now he was speaking directly into her mind?


    Her throat tightened£¬ but before she could respond£¬ his voice echoed again.


    ¡°You understand who Alex really is now£¬ don¡¯t you?¡±


    His golden eyes glowed faintly in the dim light£¬ studying her with unnerving precision.


    ¡°If you¡¯re brave enough£¬¡± he said£¬¡°there¡¯s a micro-robot hidden under my palm. If you accept it£¬ it will enter your nervous system and unlock your latent psychic abilities.¡±


    Brooke¡¯s breath hitched.


    She could feel it now¡ªthe faintest shift in the weight of his palm£¬ as if something small and very much alive was stirring beneath his skin.


    Her first instinct was to run. She tried her best to control her body again.


    ¡°You have no idea how powerful you are£¬¡± he continued£¬ voice as calm as ever.


    ¡°But power comes with risk.¡± He paused£¬ his golden gaze piercing through her.¡°I need you to open a locked door inside their mind.¡±


    The air between them grew heavy£¬ thick with unspoken tension.


    Brooke¡¯s fingers curled into fists. Her heartbeat was still erratic£¬ but something in her chest had settled¡ªa decision had been made.


    She glanced down at the hand resting on her shoulder.


    And then£¬ without a word¡ªshe nodded.


    The man raised an eyebrow£¬ as if surprised by her resolve£¬ but he quickly gave a satisfied nod and withdrew his hand.


    ¡°Good.¡±


    He turned away£¬ gazing into the shadows£¬ waiting for the right moment.


    And then¡ª


    A searing heat surged into Brooke¡¯s brain£¬ like lightning streaking through her nerves. Her body jolted violently. It felt like thousands of tiny needles piercing straight through her skull.


    She opened her mouth to scream¡ª


    But no sound came out.


    The world around her twisted and blurred£¬ and then¡ª


    Darkness swallowed her whole.


    -----------------

 Chapter 21

    The arena fell into silence.


    Just as Caron used alien technology to turn the situation in his favor£¬ a thought flashed through his mind¡ªwhere was Nyx?


    As he realized the danger£¬ a cold hand pierced through his back!


    Splat¡ª!


    A sharp pain exploded£¬ and he looked down to see his chest pierced£¬ his heart slowly beating£¬ held in a bloody hand. Blue blood dripped onto the sand£¬ creating wisps of steam.


    Nyx stood behind him£¬ with a cold smile£¬¡°Your suit did calculate ten strategies in 0.1 seconds.¡°


    He slowly withdrew his hand and casually dropped the heart£¬ crushing it.


    ¡°But it forgot to calculate... how stupid you are.¡°


    Caron''s lips trembled£¬ trying to speak but no sound came out. Blue blood gushed from his mouth£¬ and he staggered back£¬ finally collapsing to one knee.


    The arena was silent.


    Even the werewolf in the stands paused his popcorn eating£¬ thoughtfully commenting£¬¡°Ah£¬ missed the mark¡­ should¡¯ve held the heart up and paraded it around for more drama.¡°


    Sebastian£¬ however£¬ lost his composure£¬ yelling£¬¡°Traitor! Ingrate! Lowly creature!¡° losing all his successful businessman dignity£¬ looking like a clown stripped naked in public.


    In the arena£¬ Nyx and Alex supported each other£¬ standing together.


    They glanced at each other£¬ suddenly feeling awkward at their newfound closeness after trying to kill each other moments before. Looking away£¬ Nyx couldn¡¯t help but chuckle£¬¡°This must be the most extreme sibling reunion ever.¡°


    Their fierce battle had been genuine until...


    Until the girl£¬ that seemingly frail girl£¬ silently used her psychic powers to unlock a closed memory door in their minds.


    In a few short seconds£¬ they were struck like lightning£¬ left dazed and confused.


    The girl''s psychic power surged like a storm£¬ breaking through the seals deep in their memories. Forgotten moments flooded in£¬ washing over their minds.


    Their lives weren''t linear but like a M?bius strip£¬ endlessly looping. Every time they died£¬ they would awaken in a distant valley or a quiet lake£¬ reborn as a baby. They had been kings£¬ peasants£¬ and everything in between£¬ always finding each other like magnets drawn together.


    Sometimes£¬ they forgot their mission£¬ even who they were£¬ living like ordinary people£¬ loving£¬ hating£¬ crying£¬ and laughing. But they always adhered to the teachings etched into their very bones£¬ fate always brought them back together until they completed the mission given by the Buddha thousands of years ago.


    Across from him£¬ Alex trembled£¬ gazing at the girl with admiration and love. But then£¬ his expression darkened as if he had remembered something.


    On the high platform£¬ Sebastian screamed hysterically£¬¡°Mars Cannon£¬ tear that traitor apart!¡± He hated Nyx more than Alex£¬ viewing betrayal as a personal insult.


    Mars Cannon roared£¬ leapt from the stands£¬ and aimed a diving elbow at Nyx and Alex£¬ looking to crush them into mush.


    Just then£¬ Principal Zhang jumped down from the audience without hesitation!


    Against these god-like beings£¬ he was but a mere mortal£¬ an ant about to be crushed. But he had cast away fear and£¬ driven by instinct£¬ rushed forward.


    Incredibly£¬ his courage spread like wildfire¡ªseveral young villagers followed£¬ unarmed and underpowered but determined to save the injured duo and fight alongside them.


    But the scene was tragically absurd. How could mere mortals challenge gods? Their actions were like a mantis trying to stop a speeding juggernaut.


    As Mars Cannon¡¯s thunderous blow was about to land¡ª


    ¡°Boom!!¡°


    A deafening explosion£¬ a shockwave tore through the air£¬ sending dust everywhere! But the unstoppable blow was blocked by a pair of crossed iron arms!


    Mars Cannon felt an unyielding force against his fists£¬ pain shooting through his knuckles. He looked up and saw a towering figure£¬ feet buried in the ground£¬ cracked stones radiating outwards£¬ dust swirling behind him.


    The man¡¯s suit was shredded£¬ revealing steel-like muscles£¬ his skin glowing in the battle''s light. More shockingly£¬ his mouth curved into a smile£¬ fangs bared£¬ eyes gleaming with bloodlust.


    This wasn¡¯t a human. This was a werewolf!


    The audience was stunned£¬ unable to react. Who would¡¯ve thought that this seemingly untrustworthy guy£¬ who sided with aliens£¬ would save the two boys at the crucial moment?


    After a moment£¬ Principal Zhang led the applause£¬ followed by the villagers. The shameless werewolf graciously thanked them£¬ brimming with confidence and cheekiness.


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°Thank you all for the support!¡° he said£¬ bowing dramatically as he paraded around the arena.¡°And remember£¬ if you need alien tech£¬ think¡®Werewolf Technique¡¯¡ªcutting-edge gadgets£¬ totally fair prices!¡°


    It was only then that he froze mid-wave£¬ his smile twitching.¡°Wait¡­ does that sound like ''We Are Awful Technique''?¡° He glanced around nervously.¡°Uh¡­ totally not awful! Just... slightly misunderstood!¡°


    In a clash of epic proportions that left the battlefield¡¯s tension crumbling like a house of cards£¬ Principal Zhang struggled to maintain a straight face£¬ trying not to burst out laughing£¬ as he grimaced and pulled the two young lads offstage.


    Sebastian''s face turned as dark as storm clouds£¬ and he snarled through clenched teeth£¬¡°I knew it! I knew it! You lower creatures have no loyalty£¬ no shame!¡°


    With a sly grin£¬ the werewolf ripped open his tattered suit£¬ revealing his solid£¬ black chest muscles£¬ and arrogantly turned to challenge Mars Cannon£¬¡°Your opponent is me.¡°


    This sudden twist had the interstellar federation audience on the edge of their seats£¬ with viewership ratings skyrocketing. Even the CEO of the interstellar entertainment company sent Sebastian a message£¬ telling him to stay calm. Sebastian ground his teeth in frustration but had no choice but to sit back down and suppress his fury.


    On the field£¬ Mars Cannon looked down at the werewolf£¬ who was a head shorter£¬ rolling his shoulders and slowly circling£¬ searching for a weakness.


    ¡°I heard you''re the Mars free wrestling champion with ten consecutive wins?¡° the werewolf sneered.


    Mars Cannon roared with laughter£¬¡°Even in such a backwater place£¬ they know of my fame?¡°


    The werewolf shrugged£¬¡°Of course£¬ I even bet on you to win and made a fortune!¡°


    Mars Cannon raised an eyebrow with interest£¬¡°Really? So£¬ are you betting on me to win or lose now?¡°


    The werewolf''s eyes lit up£¬ and he shouted to the crowd£¬¡°Brooke£¬ call my assistant and bet on me to win!¡°


    Mars Cannon''s face darkened immediately£¬¡°Oh? So£¬ you''re betting on me to lose?¡°


    The werewolf grinned mischievously£¬¡°You don''t know£¬ the odds of you winning today are 9:1.¡°


    Mars Cannon fumed£¬¡°You know I''ll win£¬ yet you bet on me to lose? Are you daft?¡°


    The werewolf continued to grin£¬ making Mars Cannon quite frustrated£¬ occasionally fiddling with his ear£¬ as no one knew£¬ he was receiving a secret message through his earpiece.


    At that moment£¬ Mars Cannon suddenly lunged£¬ attempting to subdue the werewolf with a bear hug!


    The agile werewolf dodged with a nimble roll£¬ but Mars Cannon didn''t give up£¬ lunging repeatedly until he caught the werewolf from behind. Sebastian excitedly shouted£¬¡°He''s got the werewolf! His arms are thicker than the werewolf''s waist£¬ it looks like the werewolf''s about to be squeezed into juice!¡°


    Just as the audience thought the werewolf was done for¡ª


    Mars Cannon''s body suddenly convulsed£¬ as if thrown by an invisible force£¬ landing flat on his back. It took him a while to struggle back to his feet.


    The villagers watching were silent for a second£¬ then burst into deafening exclamations.


    ¡°What just happened? I didn''t see how the werewolf struck!¡°


    Mars Cannon scrambled to his feet£¬ eyes blazing£¬¡°Werewolf£¬ I didn''t expect you to have mental control powers! I underestimated you!¡°


    Meanwhile£¬ Sebastian''s face turned pale£¬¡°What? A werewolf on Earth can control mental power? And can throw a giant twice its weight? This... this is impossible!¡°


    Inside£¬ Mars Cannon was cursing furiously£¬¡°Werewolf! Are you out of your mind?! I bet all my money in the black market on you winning£¬ and now you just stand there£¬ making me lose everything?!¡°


    The werewolf laughed nonchalantly£¬ almost tauntingly£¬¡°You fool£¬ playing fake wrestling to make real money? I''ll make sure you don''t get your way!¡°


    Sebastian''s mouth twitched as he forced himself to continue the commentary£¬¡°Uh... now the situation is at a stalemate again£¬ both trying to find a chance to severely wound each other£¬ hahaha!¡° He managed a few dry laughs£¬ trying to hype the atmosphere.


    However£¬ the boos from the audience grew louder£¬ and the scene developed into complete absurdity¡ª


    A tall£¬ muscular contestant£¬ seemingly assured to win£¬ kept showing various weaknesses£¬ while the werewolf desperately avoided these weaknesses£¬ determined not to win. The audience gradually sensed something was wrong and started booing loudly.


    Mars Cannon£¬ gnashing his teeth£¬ finally stopped pretending and charged at the werewolf£¬ determined to get hit! The werewolf£¬ however£¬ dodged frantically£¬ like a student caught skipping class.


    In the end£¬ the werewolf was cornered£¬ with nowhere to retreat£¬ and had to push Mars Cannon''s chest with one palm¡ª


    ¡°Bang!¡°


    Mars Cannon was sent flying two or three meters£¬ creating a huge crater£¬ dust flying everywhere.


    The whole venue fell silent.


    The next second£¬ the audience exploded£¬¡°Just one gentle push? Mars Cannon was sent flying?!¡°


    Sebastian£¬ fuming with anger£¬ threw a bottle against the wall£¬ cursing Mars Cannon as a¡°shameless fatso.¡°


    Mars Cannon£¬ however£¬ lay leisurely on the ground£¬ humming and refusing to get up for a long time. It was only when Sebastian could no longer bear it and announced the end of the match that Mars Cannon slowly got up£¬ his face full of a sly grin.


    The werewolf who won the match left the field£¬ looking utterly dejected.


    This dramatic scene left the audience utterly gobsmacked£¬ feeling like it was as rare as hen''s teeth.


    -----------------


    Sebastian''s face was dark with anger£¬ veins bulging£¬ eyes burning with rage. Finally£¬ he gritted his teeth and made a decision.


    The next second£¬ all the Earthlings were forcibly transported to the square in front of the school£¬ falling to the ground and looking up at the sky in terror. Sebastian yanked out his earpiece and smashed it on the ground¡ªthe insults£¬ mockery£¬ and doubts from the Interstellar Federation had pushed him to his limit!


    His face was twisted£¬ eyes like knives£¬ as he reactivated the starship''s control device. An invisible wave of energy swept over£¬ rendering the Earthlings completely paralyzed£¬ as if death itself had pinned them down£¬ unable to move even a finger.


    Sebastian licked his dry lips£¬ his gaze cold as a snake''s£¬ sweeping over the scene. He slowly reached out and took out his most treasured possession¡ªa medieval spear. The spear was rusty£¬ with dark red stains barely visible among the rust£¬ as if the cries of the dead still clung to the weapon after all these years. It was not just an ancient weapon but a piece of deadly art£¬ stained with the final breaths of countless struggling souls.


    He smiled slightly£¬ but it was a smile as cold as a sharp blade.


    ¡°You brought this upon yourselves.¡°


    His voice was soft£¬ even with a hint of pity£¬ but the murderous intent in his words was like an invisible chain£¬ choking the air.


    ¡°I will use this blunt spear£¬ slowly piercing your chests... one by one£¬ making you feel every inch of your flesh being torn apart£¬ making you beg for a release more merciful than death.¡°


    He looked down at the spear in his hand£¬ as if admiring a finely crafted artwork£¬ muttering£¬¡°Originally£¬ I didn''t want to waste time. After all... have you ever seen an elephant bother with ants?¡°


    Pausing£¬ his gaze suddenly sharpened£¬ like a knife stabbing into the heart.


    ¡°But you have successfully angered me! With your shamelessness and despicableness!¡°


    His tone did not rise£¬ even lower than before£¬ but the repressed anger was more terrifying than any roar.


    Slowly descending£¬ spear in hand£¬ murder intent palpable.


    Stabbing them one by one.


    Only by making these inferior creatures wail in pain and despair could he wash away today''s humiliation and vent the hatred consuming his sanity!