The individuals before them were no ordinary beings; not even the darkness could obscure their vision. In the midst of the night, they could indeed see those terrifying and vivid eyes staring back at them.
"Why have they become so terrifying?"
Maria and Penelope, two young women, could not bring themselves to look any longer. They couldn't understand why these once docile beasts had turned so menacing in the darkness.
"Don't worry! They won't dare come closer!" Nicole reassured the frightened girls.
Despite their youth, the two girls, upon finding reassurance, were no longer holding up a brave front. Nicole and the others, too, felt the pressure—these beasts were formidable. To avoid unsettling their formation, they needed to hold their ground despite the fear, setting an example for the others.
Among them, only Mulan remained composed, while Zhao Lun appeared more serious. He recalled Anna's words, warning of the dangers lurking outside.
The greatest peril during the night, however, was not the dreadful monsters, but the wild beasts that roamed in packs. Wolves, in particular, were the most fearsome and hazardous of creatures.
When Anna had mentioned this, Zhao Lun had struggled to comprehend. In Britain and other European countries, wolves were nearly extinct, and when spotted, they would keep their distance from humans. In his previous life in China, wolves were a rare sight outside of zoos, with the dwindling number of wild wolves barely surviving.
Could these near-extinct creatures still pose a threat? Zhao Lun had been incredulous. After all, with a gun in hand, what harm could they possibly bring?
In truth, he had greatly underestimated the beasts' power and cunning.
The creatures outside, though of different species, had settled in their respective areas without engaging in combat. Their eyes, sharp and predatory, seemed to suggest an unspoken cooperation, as if they were planning to overrun their location together.
A howl rang through the air, deep and haunting, carrying far into the night.
Echoing roars followed, a response to the call. Soon, Zhao Lun and the others could see figures moving in the distance, drawing nearer. The wolf pack was gathering.
"Two hundred seventy-eight wolves!"
"Eleven wild bears!"
"One hundred eleven wild boars! Many with tusks! Very few without tusks, and those that are here look fierce!"
"There are a few large cats in the trees!"
"Unbelievable! These animals haven't fought among themselves but have focused their attention on us! Don't you think they're remarkably intelligent? This is truly terrifying!"
The creatures outside exhibited an intelligence that was far beyond what one would expect from mere beasts. They moved with deliberate calculation, their eyes gleaming with malice, as if they were watching their prey, waiting to strike. The oppressive weight of their gaze was palpable.
Inside, the women watched the clear images from the monitor, their calmness quickly giving way to concern. The animals were gathering in ever-increasing numbers, clearly preparing to assault their camp. They feared that their simple shelter might not withstand the impending onslaught. Worrying, they retrieved their weapons, ready for the worst.
"Don't worry, this house is sturdy. They won't be able to break in," Zhao Lun assured, tapping the wall to demonstrate.
Considering the potential dangers, Zhao Lun had ensured that everything was prepared with safety in mind. The house, though seemingly humble, was built to withstand the impact of a moving car, keeping its inhabitants safe inside.
Though these beasts were numerous, Zhao Lun was confident the house would hold, and even if it didn't, the weapons they carried would not allow the beasts to succeed.
"It's no longer a question of fear; it's about how to drive them away!" Penelope said, already drawing her wand. Yet, in the face of such a vast number of animals, even the wand seemed insignificant.
The beasts, sensing their numbers were sufficient, began to move closer. Among them, the wolves were the first to approach, followed by the large cats in the trees. The wild boars moved slower, while the bears appeared indifferent, as though they were merely observing the situation.
Bears were omnivores, and thus not particularly hungry, especially with the abundance of food in the current season.
The wild boars, similarly omnivorous, had no trouble finding food either. Their thick fur shimmered slightly in the dim light, their eyes small yet filled with untamed energy.
The boars with tusks were males, and such males were typically rare in a pack, making their presence here particularly unusual.
The incoming threat was overwhelming, and it seemed even fire would not deter them.
"Prepare for battle!" Zhao Lun commanded.
He distributed bullets and rifles to everyone, who eagerly accepted them. When rifles were available, pistols seemed insufficient. Without a word, they swiftly loaded the rifles and assumed defensive positions, resembling seasoned soldiers.
"Growl!" Just as Zhao Lun finished speaking, a wolf could no longer contain itself, letting out a low growl before several sleek gray wolves sprang from the darkness, leaping toward their camp.
In that instant, the lights in their shelter flared to life, illuminating everything around them.
The wolves, startled by the sudden brightness, landed awkwardly and unsteadily.
"Bang!" The shot rang out, and one of the wolves collapsed on the spot.
The sound of the gun was like a command, and immediately, Nicole and the others followed suit, firing their weapons.
Within moments, five wolves that had dared to approach were killed.
The scent of blood filled the air, but instead of retreating, the remaining wolves grew more ferocious, snarling as they ignored the gunfire and boldly approached the fallen wolves, dragging their bodies away.
Were they going to bury their companions? The women wondered, instinctively halting their fire, giving the wolves time to mourn their dead.
Once the wolves had dragged their companions' bodies away, they circled around, no longer hiding their intentions. They opened their mouths wide and began their meal.
"..." The women were filled with disappointment, feeling deceived, followed quickly by anger.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" Several shots rang out, targeting the pack of wolves feasting on their fallen.
"Howl..." A few unfortunate wolves were hit and let out pitiful cries, but the women showed no mercy, firing even faster. They did not stop until a dozen wolves lay dead on the ground.
The blood scent became more potent, and the remaining animals seemed to be deterred, retreating further into the darkness.
Not long after, a howl came from the wolf pack, and the quiet wolves suddenly stirred, charging toward their shelter without regard for life or death.
"Hmph!" A strange, grating sound followed, and the wild boars that had been motionless until then suddenly backed up before charging from another direction.
The ground shook as a hundred wild boars stampeded forward, sending tremors through the earth. The people inside the shelter watched, their faces paling.
If they charged, even the house wouldn't hold up against such a massive force, and its collapse would leave them vulnerable to the surrounding beasts.
However, their worries were swiftly dispelled by a new weapon Zhao Lun revealed.
Without anyone noticing, Zhao Lun had strapped a long belt of ammunition to his body and held a modified weapon in his hands. "Let me handle this!" he said.
The others, stunned by the sight of the weapon, quickly made way for him.
Meanwhile, the wild boars were already charging at full speed.
Zhao Lun opened fire, the flames from his weapon lighting up the night, as the deafening sound of the shots echoed.
"Boom! Boom!" The weapon emitted a powerful, resonating sound, easily piercing the night and ringing out clearly.
Despite their thick fur, the boars stood no chance. The once-unstoppable pack of wild boars collapsed like dominoes, falling one after another.
The ones behind, too fast to stop, slammed into their fallen comrades' bodies, only to be struck by the barrage of bullets that rained down upon them.
In less than a minute, more than half of the hundred wild boars had been wiped out.
Bang! Bang! The house trembled again!
Looking back, the women saw that the wolves had moved to a different direction, attacking the house with force.
Despite being a temporary structure, the house held firm, just as Zhao Lun had promised. Even the violent collisions didn't cause it to collapse.
The house shook violently, and the people inside were unsettled. But seeing that Zhao Lun had contained the boar threat, they felt more at ease. They grabbed their weapons and moved to the other side, where they began firing at the approaching wolves without hesitation.
The modified guns were even more powerful now, and the women fired without restraint, sweeping a broad area with a burst of bullets.
The once-dominant wolves, now like paper, were torn apart by the storm of gunfire.
In a mere moment, the pack of wolves that had once been so arrogant were now retreating, howling in fear, no longer able to face their ruthless enemies.
The weapon continued to fire, its flames claiming the lives of the wolves, who now cowered, terrified.