Chapter 75: The despair that is difficult to overcome
"Damn jungle monkeys, how dare you set traps!"
The captain of the Giant Bone Wolf Riders, Wolfie, was furious. His bare arms, marked with black tattoos, symbolized his status as a tribe's warrior in the Mpondo Tribe.
And not just any common tribe's warrior.
He was one of Reg's most valued subordinates.
For this mission, he had been granted permission to carry ten doses of Frenzy Potion, a powerful brew from Blue Sea, brought to the barren mountain region by traveling merchants or through other means and acquired by the Mpondo Tribe.
The Frenzy Potion significantly boosted strength and dulled pain.
Wolfie didn't hesitate. He immediately ordered, "Everyone, take the Frenzy Potion and kill these jungle monkeys! I want their skins turned into rugs!"
He then pulled a bamboo tube from his waist and drank the potion in one gulp.
In the next instant, his body turned crimson.
He bent his legs slightly and leapt seven or eight meters high, pulling out an iron dagger to cut the vine ropes, allowing the restrained Giant Bone Wolves to drop back to the ground.
Seeing this, Gene knew things were not going well.
He had hoped that his preparations would be enough to deal with this squad of Giant Bone Wolf Riders.
While the plan had partially succeeded, it hadn't completely worked.
Understanding there was no time for hesitation, Gene shouted,"Fire arrows!"
As a unique weapon in the current jungle, the bow and arrow possess long-range combat capabilities with considerable killing power. Their only drawback is that arrows are prone to breakage, necessitating a large stockpile before battle.
However, the Crimson Star Tribe generously shared how to craft longbows and arrows.
So there was currently no shortage of arrows.
As the arrows rained down, they greatly hindered Wolfie and the others, even though they easily dodged them. It was akin to being pelted by monkeys with stones—causing little harm but immense irritation.
Additionally, vines and trees made movement difficult for the Giant Bone Wolf.
Therefore, Wolfie once again ordered, "Everyone, dismount from the Giant Bone Wolf, fight freely, and kill these cowardly monkeys who only know how to hide at a distance!"
Blessed with the fervor of the Potion, Wolfie and the others easily dodged the arrows.
Moreover, they could swiftly locate the people hiding in the big tree following the direction of the arrows, which made Gene extremely anxious, especially since it was his proposal.
If there are significant casualties, that would be an unbearable price to pay.
With this in mind, Gene charged directly at Wolfie and his group, his body surging with strength, muscles bulging like a true giant bear. He swung a powerful punch towards Wolfie.
Although Wolfie felt disdainful in his heart, he still chose to avoid it. As it turned out, his choice was the right one.
Gene's momentum carried his punch into a thick tree trunk.
He snapped it in half.
Wolfie, surprised, grew serious. Setting aside his disdain, he gestured to his teammates, signaling them to join the fight.
In such battles for survival, there was no room for morality.
Despite fending off many attacks from the group, Gene sustained injuries, his bare torso showing numerous bruises and contusions.
Up in the trees, Gene's Adventurer squad members grew anxious.
"We have to help Lord Gene!"
"But how can we help?"
"I told you, we should never have agreed to Gene's proposal earlier. The people from Plata Plain are too powerful; we can't defeat them!"
...
At that moment, a quarrel broke out among the group.
Suddenly, Lester roared, "Enough!"
The other members of the Adventurer squad froze in place.
They knew Lester well.As a priest of the Flower Cat Tribe, he possessed the priest inheritance power of farsight but lacked combat skills. Normally amiable and friendly, even in trouble he would extend goodwill.
But now, his face darkened.
A fierce, bloodthirsty glint flashed in his aged eyes as he unslung his bow and arrows. With solemnity in his voice, he spoke, "Lord Enzo has brought innovation to the jungle, but this revolution is not complete. Though we have ample food and can sustain ourselves and our people through cultivation, it is not enough."
"People of the jungle are seen as docile sheep to those in other regions."
"Once these sheep grow fat, they attract the gaze of wolves!"
"Then, those wolves will wield sharp claws and open jaws filled with fangs to devour all the fat sheep of the jungle."
"Gene fights not for himself but for the jungle!"
"Now, for the jungle and for our tribe, I too must fight. After all, in the years past, as a priest of the Flower Cat Tribe, it was always the tribe that protected me."
With that, Lester slid down from the tree trunk.
Others rushed to dissuade him, "Lester!"
But Lester simply smiled and said, "Under the protection of the Crimson Star Tribe, the people of the Flower Cat Tribe have lived well. This is Lord Enzo's kindness, but it's not a reason we can accept with peace of mind."
After a moment, Lester reached the ground and took a deep breath.
He drew the bowstring with hands that appeared somewhat weathered, triggering farsight at that moment.
An astonishing aura surrounded him, and his eyes transformed into cross-shaped pupils as he captured the battle between the Wolfie and Gene.
The scene abruptly slowed down, not because their movements were slower, but because his reactions had sped up.
This unprecedented experience greatly boosted Lester's confidence. So, when a Wolf Cavalryman chose to ambush Gene from behind, Lester seized the opportunity. Taking a deep breath, he gathered his entire strength to draw the bowstring, then released the arrow.
The arrow flew swiftly and directly.
Zap~Zap~
The arrow pierced through the attacker's throat, maintaining its speed as it embedded into the trunk of a large tree, which shook violently.
Lester's sudden shot left both the Wolfie and Gene in shock.
Their reactions were different: the Wolfie were furious, while Gene was pleasantly surprised.
Gene shouted towards Lester, "Lester, well done! I'll treat you to a feast when we get back!"
Lester laughed heartily and said in a carefree manner, "Lord Gene, my friend, you should worry about whether you'll survive.I don't want to take your corpse back with me!"
With that, he drew his bowstring again.
Hearing their conversation, the Wolfie sneered, "Do you think you've already won?"
In the next moment, members of the Adventurer squad who had been waiting in the trees jumped down one by one, shouting towards Gene, "Lord Gene, we're here to help you!"
Not only that, members of jungle tribes began appearing from surrounding areas.
They had also taken on the mission, although the squad members were not as powerful as Gene's Adventurer squad, opting instead to stay in the jungle and take on guard duty.
Now, they had all arrived.
Seeing this scene, the Wolfie ground his teeth in frustration, reluctantly giving the order, "Retreat!"
Continuing the fight would endanger him as well. Even if he managed to kill most of them, he would be at risk, possibly even facing death—something the Wolfie could not accept.
He fancied himself the lone wolf of the plains, refusing to be defeated by jungle monkeys.
But at this moment, Gene was relentless.
He completely disregarded his own injuries, letting the claws of the Giant Bone Wolves tear bloody wounds into him, all to hold back the Wolfie's group and create opportunities for others.
Gene's plan was successful.
Under his fearless interception, the Wolfie's group began to suffer injuries.
Madman!
They're all madmen!
Wolfie cursed inwardly. He glanced at Gene, now transformed into a figure drenched in blood, his face twisted in madness, roaring, "Damn monkeys, you've forced me to this!"
From a pocket in his pants, Gene pulled out another bamboo tube.
This too was a Potion.
However, unlike the previous one, this bamboo tube bore the emblem of a lion engraved on it—a Potion from the Golden Lion Tribe, bestowed by Lord Freya herself. Its effects were immensely powerful, capable of tapping into one's potential and temporarily boosting strength several times over.
The Wolfie uncorked the tube and gulped it down.
Golden patterns shimmered over his body, transforming him into a figure resembling a holy knight bathed in sunlight, his aura becoming overwhelmingly powerful. Even the Giant Bone Wolf he rode began to tremble.
Gene was even more so.
Unstoppable!
With this thought surfacing in his mind, Gene fell into despair.
Lester was equally anxious, shooting an arrow that unexpectedly struck the Wolfie's body without breaking its skin.
Witnessing this scene, others also fell into despair.
Could they really defeat such a powerful presence?
Moreover, this was just the captain of a cavalry squad.Above him loomed Reg, the leader of the Mpondo Tribe, an even more formidable entity...
Everyone hesitated involuntarily, their morale sinking low.
Sensing the change, the Wolfie grabbed Gene by the neck with one hand and mocked loudly, "Take a look, you annoying monkey. I will kill all of you in the jungle and cut off you heads one by one, so you can see how your members struggle before death!"
"Before that, though, you'd better lie down for me!"
The Wolfie snapped Gene's arms, while the Giant Bone Wolf directly stomped on Gene's legs. Then, the Wolfie threw Gene under a pile of rocks and launched an attack on the others.
Facing such a powerful Wolfie, the others didn't retreat; instead, they counterattacked. Arrows continued to rain down, spears were thrown, and some engaged in close combat.
Despite being no match for the Wolfie.
They fought fearlessly and with reckless abandon.
This enraged the Wolfie immensely.
What made him even more enraged and uneasy was seeing a tall figure leap down from a tree, transforming into a humanoid boulder and crashing down towards him.
That figure was Gene!