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—both his own and the wolves'—he 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.
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.