The forest was silent.
Too silent.
Lin Feng remained motionless, body low to the ground, golden eyes fixed on the direction of the disturbance.
The tremor had been subtle.
But real.
Something was approaching.
Not prey.
Not something weak.
Something… aware.
His muscles tightened slightly.
Every sense sharpened.
The air carried a faint scent.
Wild.
Heavy.
Mixed with blood.
Lin Feng did not move forward.
He waited.
Because a true predator did not rush blindly.
It observed.
Calculated.
Then killed.
Seconds passed.
Then—
A shadow moved between the trees.
Slow.
Deliberate.
A large figure stepped into view.
Lin Feng's pupils narrowed.
It was a wolf.
But not like the ones he had destroyed before.
This one was different.
Larger.
More muscular.
Its fur was darker — almost gray-black — with faint scars running across its body.
Its eyes were cold.
Sharp.
Intelligent.
This was not part of the old pack.
This one stood alone.
A lone hunter.
The wolf stopped.
Its gaze locked onto Lin Feng instantly.
No hesitation.
No fear.
The two predators stared at each other.
The forest held its breath.
Then—
The wolf stepped forward.
Slow.
Confident.
Each step carried weight.
Territory.
That was what this was about.
Lin Feng had entered its domain.
Or perhaps—
It had come to challenge him.
Lin Feng did not retreat.
His claws dug slightly into the ground.
His tail swayed once.
Controlled.
Measured.
The wolf growled.
Low.
Threatening.
Lin Feng's response—
Silence.
But something else moved.
A faint, invisible pressure began to spread from his body.
Subtle at first.
Then heavier.
> [Spirit Dominance — Activated]
The air shifted.
The ground seemed to sink slightly.
An invisible force pressed outward.
The wolf's body stiffened.
Its growl faltered for a fraction of a second.
Instinct reacted.
Something was wrong.
But—
It did not back down.
Instead—
It bared its fangs.
And lunged.
Fast.
Faster than the previous wolves.
Its body blurred as it closed the distance in an instant.
Lin Feng moved.
*Slash.*
His claws met the wolf mid-charge.
The impact echoed.
Both bodies were pushed back.
The wolf landed smoothly, skidding slightly before stabilizing.
Lin Feng slid back a shorter distance.
His claws dug into the ground — stopping him instantly.
No damage.
Only force.
The wolf's eyes narrowed.
It had expected an easy kill.
It was wrong.
Lin Feng didn't hesitate.
He moved forward.
Faster than before.
His body was lighter, more controlled after evolution.
He closed the distance.
Claws struck again.
The wolf twisted.
Dodged.
Countered.
Its fangs snapped toward Lin Feng's neck.
Lin Feng tilted his head slightly.
The bite missed by inches.
His tail whipped forward —
*Bang.*
It struck the wolf's side.
The beast was pushed back, claws digging into the ground.
A shallow mark appeared where the hit landed.
Not deep.
But real.
The wolf growled louder.
Now —
It understood.
This was not prey.
This was a threat.
A real one.
The air grew tense.
Then —
The wolf's muscles tightened.
And it moved again.
Faster.
More aggressive.
Claws and fangs attacked in rapid succession.
Lin Feng met every strike.
Block.
Dodge.
Counter.
The fight intensified.
Speed increased.
Movements blurred.
The forest floor cracked under repeated impacts.
Leaves scattered into the air.
Neither backed down.
Neither made a mistake.
Then —
A shift.
The wolf feinted left —
Then lunged right.
Its jaws clamped down —
On Lin Feng's shoulder.
*Crunch.*
For a moment —
Silence.
The wolf's eyes flashed with victory.
But —
It froze.
Its teeth… couldn't go deeper.
Lin Feng's Iron Scales held.
No.
More than held —
They resisted.
The wolf's pupils shrank.
Wrong.
Something was wrong.
Lin Feng turned his head slowly.
Their eyes met.
Cold.
Unmoved.
Then —
His jaws opened.
And bit down.
Directly into the wolf's neck.
*CRACK.*
This time —
There was no resistance.
His enhanced bite force crushed through flesh and bone.
The wolf's body jerked violently.
Its claws scratched against Lin Feng's scales —
But failed to penetrate.
Lin Feng held the bite.
Tighter.
Stronger.
Until —
The struggling stopped.
The forest fell silent again.
Lin Feng released the body.
The wolf collapsed to the ground.
Lifeless.
> [XP +82]
Lin Feng stood still.
No celebration.
No wasted movement.
Only calm.
The fight had been short.
But important.
This opponent —
Had been intelligent.
Fast.
Dangerous.
And yet —
He had won.
Cleanly.
Decisively.
Lin Feng lowered his head slightly and bit into the corpse.
*Crunch.*
Warm blood filled his mouth.
Energy flowed into his body.
> [XP +37]
> [XP +41]
He continued eating.
Methodical.
Efficient.
Nothing wasted.
As he devoured —
The forest reacted.
From a distance —
Eyes watched.
Hidden in the shadows.
Beasts that had sensed the battle.
They did not approach.
They did not move.
Because instinct told them —
That creature…
Was not something to challenge.
Lin Feng stopped eating after a moment.
Not because he was full.
But because —
He felt it.
That presence again.
Not the wolf.
Something else.
Something… deeper in the forest.
Stronger.
Watching.
Waiting.
Lin Feng lifted his head.
His golden eyes locked onto the darkness between the trees.
No fear.
Only focus.
His body lowered slightly.
Ready.
If it came —
He would kill it.
If it waited —
He would find it.
Because now —
He was no longer just surviving.
He was hunting.
To be continued…