Yang Shung leaned against a tree, staring at the horned rabbits surrounding him.
Seven or eight dead horned rabbits lay around him, their bodies intact but clearly killed by blunt force. The remaining rabbits circled him warily, occasionally testing him with sudden charges. They refused to give Yang Shung any time to recover.
The horned rabbits attacked cautiously, their moves precise and well-coordinated.
"Only 40% of my energy left…" Yang Shung muttered, breathing heavily. "It's been more than ten minutes. Figures."
His ability was of the amplification type, offering durability but lacking the explosive power of elemental abilities. In the Black Iron Realm, energy reserves were limited, making prolonged combat difficult.
Yang Shung observed his attackers while deflecting their strikes. "If you know you can't win but still stick to brute force, you're just dumb."
Suddenly, six horned rabbits lunged at him in unison.
Four of them leaped high, aiming straight for Yang Shung like arrows.
Yang Shung's reflexes saved him. He grabbed the horns of two rabbits mid-air, twisting with a sharp motion. The sound of dislocated spines echoed as the rabbits went limp. Without hesitation, Yang Shung hurled their bodies at the other two, their horns clashing with sickening force.
The last two rabbits attacked his feet, but Yang Shung acted swiftly. He stomped on one rabbit's head, killing it instantly, and kicked the other into a tree, where its horn became stuck.
An idea sparked in Yang Shung's mind. Grabbing the immobilized rabbit, he used its horn like a crude weapon, jabbing at the others.
Then, with all his strength, he leaped.
Yang Shung soared three meters into the air and landed on a sturdy tree branch. The rabbits below froze, their simple minds struggling to comprehend the sudden development.
Yang Shung smirked down at them. "What now? Climb up if you dare!"
The rabbits chattered angrily, surrounding the tree. Suddenly, one began gnawing at the trunk.
Yang Shung's eyes widened. "Smart little things," he admitted. "Instead of climbing, they're bringing the whole tree down."
The tree's thick trunk wouldn't last long under their sharp teeth. Nearby trees were too far for Yang Shung to jump to, and the higher branches wouldn't support his weight. He needed a plan—and fast.
Yang Shung began cutting smaller branches with his knife, preparing makeshift weapons. After about seven minutes, he had over twenty sharpened sticks. He secured them to his clothing and climbed higher, just as the tree started to give way.
"Time to decide where this falls!" Yang Shung shouted, using his weight to tilt the tree's descent.
With a loud crash, the tree hit the ground, its sprawling canopy crushing five rabbits. Three others fled in panic.
Yang Shung didn't let them escape. He hurled his sharpened branches with precision, killing two instantly. The third tried to flee but was struck by several sticks, leaving it immobilized.
Yang Shung approached the last rabbit, now pinned and trembling.
"Horned Rabbit King, huh?" he said, lifting it by its horns.
The rabbit's eyes widened in shock.
"You wonder how I knew, don't you?" Yang Shung smirked. "Your eyes gave you away. A king can't hide his intelligence."
The Horned Rabbit King glared, powerless.
"I baited you earlier, acting arrogant to provoke a reaction. Your anger betrayed your leadership." Yang Shung tightened his grip. "And when your followers didn't understand your rage, I knew you were different."
The rabbit closed its eyes, accepting defeat.
"You're smart," Yang Shung admitted, "but not enough."
With a swift motion, he snapped the rabbit's neck.
The Horned Rabbit King was dead.