The first wolf exploded from the shadows.
Chen Yu raised the crude launcher. Thwack. The spike punched straight into its chest. Still the beast charged, jaws gaping wide.
Dropping to one knee sent fresh fire ripping through cracked ribs. At the last second the second spike drove upward. The wolf's own momentum forced the wood deep into its throat. It gurgled once and crashed sideways, spraying blood across the leaves.
Two more wolves charged from the right.
The launcher swung like a club. It connected with a sickening crack against the nearest skull. The beast staggered sideways. A brutal kick followed straight into the injured flank. The wolf yelped and tumbled away.
Claws raked across Chen Yu's shoulder as the fourth wolf leaped for his face. Fresh pain burned hot. Blood ran down his arm in thick streams.
[Warning: Blood loss critical. Reconstruction progress: 71%. Energy reserves dropping.]
Breathing came in short, sharp bursts. Chen Yu backed against the tree again. Four bodies already littered the ground. The pack was far from finished.
A larger wolf stepped out. Longer spikes. Smarter eyes. It growled low and began circling.
Alpha. Just what was needed.
Chen Yu raised the launcher once more. His hands were slick with blood. The simple tension mechanism was already starting to fray. One or two more shots and the whole thing would fall apart.
Thwack.
The spike hit the shoulder but sank only halfway. Not deep enough.
The alpha slammed forward. The impact sent Chen Yu flying backward into the dirt. Air exploded from his lungs. Heavy weight pinned him down. Hot breath and drool washed over his face while jaws snapped inches from his throat.
Chen Yu rammed his forearm into the creature's neck, holding the bite back. Titanium-laced bones creaked under the strain. The sharp rock came up again and again in his free hand, stabbing into the alpha's side. Blood poured hot across his chest.
The wolf howled in rage and finally bit down on his shoulder. Teeth sank deep.
Pain flared white-hot.
No scream escaped. Only a low snarl through gritted teeth while the stabbing continued. Over and over.
The alpha shuddered at last and went limp.
Shoving the heavy body aside left Chen Yu rolling to his knees. Blood streamed steadily from the new bite wound. His vision swam at the edges.
[Reconstruction progress: 78%. Nano-machines prioritizing wound sealing.]
The last two wolves hesitated now at the edge of the clearing. They smelled the blood. They smelled death.
Forcing himself upright made Chen Yu's legs shake. The launcher in his hand suddenly felt like it weighed a hundred kilos.
One of the remaining wolves turned tail and vanished into the trees.
The other snarled and lunged anyway.
Both hands swung the launcher. The metal tube connected with a sickening thud against the skull. The beast collapsed mid-leap.
Silence finally fell.
Six corpses littered the small clearing. Chen Yu's chest heaved. Blood dripped steadily from shoulder and side. Every breath still sent fire through his ribs. The reconstruction worked, but far too slowly.
The launcher dropped from tired fingers. Bark strips had torn. The tension bar sat bent and useless.
A faint glow caught Chen Yu's eye. One of the larger trees pulsed with soft blue light. Runes on its bark shone brighter than the rest.
Pressing a bloody palm against the trunk sent silver threads burrowing into the wood.
[Unknown bio-energy radiation detected.] [Conversion started…]
Warmth flowed inward. The energy bar crept upward. 35%. 42%. 51%. 67%.
The bite on his shoulder had stopped bleeding. Rib pain dulled to a deep ache. His left arm could move again, though still stiff.
Not perfect. But enough to keep going.
[Multiple mutant beasts neutralized.] [Biomass available for harvest.] [Current energy reserves: 67%.]
Silver threads slid out once more, breaking down the corpses. Iron. Carbon. Proteins. All pulled into storage.
"System. Build the nail driver. Basic version."
Threads erupted from both palms. They wove together fast, pulling material from the harvest. In under a minute a thick metal tube formed. Handle. Simple trigger. Compressed air chamber made from hardened sap and scrap.
Crude. Industrial. Deadly.
Chen Yu tested the weight. Balanced enough.
Several thick iron nails, formed from wolf bones and spikes, loaded into the chamber.
Phht.
One test shot sank deep into a nearby tree with a solid thunk.
Good enough.
The nail driver rested over his good shoulder as Chen Yu started moving deeper into the forest. His steps stayed careful but noticeably steadier.
The system pinged.
[Short-term objective updated: Locate high-density energy source and secure temporary shelter.] [Warning: Larger biological anomaly detected 2.1 kilometers north. Estimated threat level: High.]
A single glance flicked toward the north. High threat already. These freaks really don't waste time.
Chen Yu didn't slow down. The new weapon stayed ready in his grip.
"Target acquired."
He disappeared between the trees. Only the faint sound of distant howling echoed behind him.
This time the hunter was moving forward.