The orange sunset hung on the horizon like a perfectly fried soft-boiled egg, surrounded by brilliant, fiery clouds that shimmered like glistening oil in a pan.
Inside a natural cave formed by rocky hills, several Grimalkynes leaned against the stone walls, panting heavily.
"We finally made it out alive! That scared the whiskers off me, meow!"
"Luckily that giant monster wasn't hungry, or we'd be dead meat for sure, meow!"
The surrounding Grimalkynes nodded in agreement. The one who had previously fainted right at Logan's feet had now woken up, its face full of pride. It had black fur on its back and a snow-white belly and paws, looking exactly like a cow cat from Logan's previous life.
"Hehe! Good thing I'm smart. I played dead and fooled that big monster instantly, meow!"
However, a brown Grimalkyne nearby looked worried. "But we saw it stuff some transparent crystals into your mouth... are you sure you'll be okay, meow?"
The cow-cat Grimalkyne checked its condition and shook its head vigorously. "I feel great! My belly is full and I've got endless energy. Those crystals must be good stuff, meow!"
Hearing this, the other Grimalkynes' eyes lit up. They began rummaging through the small bundles on their backs. "That's wonderful! We collected a lot of that stuff, meow!"
The old jar they had found earlier had been pried open by their spears, and the sugar crystals inside had been looted, now stored in various bottles made from fruit shells.
"And this! It can be used to make excellent wound medicine, meow!" A gray Grimalkyne pulled out several blue mushrooms from its pack; they were vibrant and shimmering with a moist luster.
"That monster's nest has so many treasures. It's just a pity we lost our weapons." At this, some of the Grimalkynes sighed, and one lowered its head in dejection.
"My golden spear... I worked so hard to find that, meow!"
Seeing this, a companion patted its shoulder. "Don't be sad. There's still so much gold in that cave. We can just go back and scavenge some more later, meow!"
When Logan woke up, the sky was completely dark. A crescent moon cast a cold glow through the cracks in the cave ceiling, looking like thin veils of silver silk.
Logan rolled over, accidentally nudging Zhu Peiniang off the "bed," causing her to let out a grunt of dissatisfaction.
After a few hours, his shallower wounds had already healed. The scabs had fallen off to reveal pink new skin. However, his scales would take time to grow back, and his scorched fur hadn't returned to its original length. Of the Fulgurbugs that usually nested in his fur, only a few remained.
These little creatures were too fragile against high temperatures and shockwaves. He decided it was best not to take them out for a while, letting them breed peacefully in the nest. Otherwise, a few more fights like the last one would wipe them out entirely.
From the distance came a series of dull thuds—thump, thump, thump—ringing out clearly in the silent night.
Wondering what creature was making a fuss in the middle of the night, Logan felt his empty stomach and leaped to his feet. He didn't wake Zhu Peiniang and walked out of the cave alone. The cold moonlight fell on his white scales, coating them in a layer of silver frost.
Following the sound, he moved through the monotonous sandy terrain. Jagged boulders and mounds cast heavy shadows, and the low temperature made the cacti look wilted.
Near a towering Ant-Abode, Logan found his target.
It appeared to be a Barroth, about 14 meters in length. As a Brute Wyvern, it possessed the typical bipedal dinosaur frame—small forelimbs but extremely developed hind legs. Its body was covered in hard, rust-colored armor, which was further coated in a layer of thick, viscous mud.
Its most unique feature was its massive head crest—an oval protrusion with a flat top that looked like a leftover tree stump. Small circular holes dotted the top of the crest; these were its nostrils, allowing it to breathe even when its body was completely submerged in mire.
Currently, the Barroth was slamming its hardened head into the castle-like termite mound. Chunks of sand and stone fell away, revealing panicked Carrier Ants inside. These were one of the Barroth's favorite foods; it was hard to imagine such a massive beast subsisting primarily on insects.
Logan licked his lips, his gaze locking onto the Barroth's tail. Even under the thick mud, he could see the lobster-like structure of the tail meat. He knew that in the game's lore, Barroth tail was a rare delicacy enjoyed worldwide—and he had never tasted it.
It's strange, he thought. In this world, the tastiest parts of monsters are always the liver or the tail. Is it because those parts store the most fat?
He couldn't figure it out, but that didn't stop him from verifying it himself. His elastic paw pads hit the ground silently as he crept forward.
The feeding Barroth maintained some level of alertness, but by the time it sensed something was wrong, it was too late.
A massive white blur, wreathed in flickering electricity, lunged like a ghost. The distance of dozens of meters vanished in an instant as Logan slammed into the monster's side.
Logan's powerful forepaws pressed directly into the Barroth's back. The hardened mud cracked under the pressure, revealing the rusty scales beneath. The sheer impact buckled the Barroth's legs, sending it crashing to the side.
Before it could struggle to its feet, Logan's claws rained down like a violent storm, striking its head repeatedly. The thud-thud sounds echoed as the force bypassed the thick skull, rattling the Barroth's brain and leaving it in a dizzying whirl.
Simultaneously, powerful electric currents acted like thousands of tiny scalpels, cutting through its nerves and paralyzing its muscles.
Seeing the Barroth completely dazed and unable to resist, Logan leaped back. He bit down hard on his own tail blade and curled his body into a ball. From his neck to the tip of his tail, his spine curved like a fully drawn longbow, accumulating an incredible amount of power.
The next moment, the Barroth struggled to lift its head.
In that heartbeat, a streak of white lightning slashed through the air. The atmosphere was ripped apart so violently it left behind a white vapor trail like a jet's exhaust. The impact caused the rust-colored armor to shatter instantly. Muscle and bone were sliced through as easily as a hot knife through butter, and the massive head was sent flying high into the air.
The Barroth's vision spun and rose higher; it seemed to hear a piercing shriek followed by a thunderous boom. Then, its world faded into darkness, and all sensation vanished.
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