Chapter 658
658 The predators meet
Not a moment later, the tree branches shook, and the leaves rustled. The temperature became colder before a chilly wind picked up.
A large body leaped in the direction of the Cefeye. In that split second, blood splattered at all directions.
In front of Vincent were the Cefeyes and Awa’s body. However, instead of ten Cefeyes, there were now seven, and a large white tiger chewing three Cefeye who were killed instantly.
Vincent became flustered. He didn’t think his intent-sensing range had decreased to the level of not detecting the larger white tiger.
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[Name] Great Snow Tiger
[Race] Snow Tiger (Male)
[Age] 2
[Core] Ice Core (Grade – Small Stage One)
.....
[Condition] Injured, Enraged,
[Stats] Strength 48 || Agility 63 || Perception 52 || Mana 37
[Core Skills] None
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[First Time Animal Discovery]
[A snow tiger usually lives in cold areas.]
[Snow tigers are intelligent predators. Some like to stay in packs, while others like to stay alone for most of their lives.]
[Snow tigers like to roam in the wintertime. They would travel to gather food, not from their area to stockpile, offer to join large packs, or to get the best mate in a pack to accept them.]
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Vincent could see that the snow tiger had recently awakened into a magic beast. He also noticed red fur on one of its legs, as if it was chained or caught in a trap.
The female Cefeye loudly screeched while the male Cefeyes pulled tick rigid hair needles from their backs. In both, their hands were multiple needles now.
The six remaining Cefeye fearlessly charged forward to attack the snow tiger. They ran and lept as if they possessed the will to protect the female Cefeye no matter the cost.
[I will scout the area for more unexpected enemies.] Kazumi said while going to scout the area around them.
“Overheat.” Vincent said promptly. After gaining so much power, Vincent became demoralized to have lost seventy-five percent in the blink of an eye.
Vincent lifted Plow from her belly. “Stay with Awa’s body while we do the rest. Try to connect her head if you have time. But I doubt she will be able to move in her current bad state.”
“Leave it to Plow. Plow can’t help much, but Plow will keep naked no head body warm.” *Pho* Plow wrapped her tails around Awa’s head more firmly before Plow was thrown at the body.
The snow tiger saw Plow in mid-air, flying toward Awa’s body. The snow tiger hurriedly swung its paw and killed another Cefeye. It opened its jaws to bite and eat Plow.
However, before the snow tiger could attack Plow, it felt a large amount of bloodlust. Shortly, a thick tendril emerged from the ground like a spike.
The snow tiger jumped back to evade the tendril, yet it was futile. The tendril’s tip moved to the side and swung like a whip.
The snow tiger jumped as high as possible and evaded the tendril whip. As soon as its feet touched the ground, the snow tiger moved its gaze to the tendril. One two three seconds passed, but the tendril didn’t move again.
The snow tiger moved its gaze toward the direction of the strongest bloodlust. It saw an eerie human glaring at it with his hand extended, showing it was him who attacked it.
The snow tiger moved its gaze to the others. It saw the Cefeye pulling more hair needles from their backs to attack with.
Behind them was a naked body with a fox on her lap. A three-foot humanoid-looking plant beside them. It was rooted in the ground while eating something and growing larger.
“Magic Bullets. ” Vincent said while shooting mana from this finger flicks to gather attention.
The snow tiger became angry. Vincent’s attacks were scratching its body. However, it didn’t have time to become provoked as the male Cefeye began running to attack it.
Kazumi returned, and bad news followed.
[Vincent! There are ten more Cefeye approaching. That was the good news. The bad news is in the form of a white wolf. It is a magic beast, and it is acting strange. It is on standby while hiding its presence as if waiting for an order.]
Vincent knew the fire had been burning for quite a while now. It meant the fire had coincidently attracted two magic beasts. However, tigers and wolves were most likely at odds. The one who attacked first or the one who was injured the most would be the final victor in the end.
The snow tiger lunged at the Cefeyes. It bit and killed two more, leaving only five alive. The snow tiger threw the corpses on three Cefeye about to attack and swung its paw to hit one Cefeye. Only the female Cefeye was left on her feet.
The snow tiger felt another wave of intimidating intent. It moved its gaze onto Vincent and growled.
“Playtime is over. ” Vincent said before taking his first step forward.
The snow tiger became alert as if it sensed danger the more steps Vincent took. The snow tiger growled before it loudly roared.
*Rustly. Thud* The snow wolf appeared. As Kazumi mentioned, both magic beasts gave the impression of being chained.
The large snow wolf moved its head to look at its prey. The snow wolf viciously barked loudly when it saw Plow frowning at it.
[I thought this could be a turf war for both magic beasts, but I think I was wrong. Their injury is in the same place, making it more possible for the two of them to know each other.]
[Tsk. It means it will be challenging to pit them against each other.]
“Are these the pets of a bastard?” Vincent questioned.
Vincent couldn’t remain to observe any longer. He had to get involved as the snow wolf appeared not too far from Plow, Zero, and Awa. Furthermore, Zero needed more time to do as Vincent had instructed.
Awa opened her eyes. She could feel cold all over her body and limbs, yet she couldn’t move them.
Awa’s head was attached to her body by the darkness emerging from the head and the body. The shadow neck of darkness was completely back without allowing light to enter.
Awa had regained her body, yet it meant she was feeling all the cold the body was suffering from. Her body was doing its best to survive by being in a dormant state, but when the two separate parts became whole, the body returned to a normal state.
Awa was desperately trying to keep her eyes open. She wanted to die like a proud Dullahan. She wanted to die while looking her killer in the eye.
Awa looked at the large snow wolf approaching them. She could see the saliva fall on the snow and the fangs get revealed. She knew today was the day she was going to return to her ancestors. Yet Vincent’s previous words about returning to her family were making her feel conflicted.
“Plow will protect Awa Awa. Plow will see how head and body can live.” Plow glared at the snow wolf and continued, “Plow hates very bad wolves.” *Pho!*
‘Protect me? Is this little fox serious about fighting... no... what am I thinking? Dullahans die in combat. This little weak fox has was it takes to meet her ancestors proudly.’ While Awa was thinking how brave Plow was to choose to die while fighting, a loud roar filled with chilling bloodlust attracted her attention.
Awa shook while moving her gaze. She saw Vincent and green steam escaping from the sides of his mouth. At that moment, she understood what Vincent meant. He wasn’t a human.
In front of Awa’s eyes were a person and a monster combined into one. A person with two types of blood. A person who could drastically change his presence from a person to an anomaly in mere seconds.
This was what Awa, who wasn’t immune to Vincent’s powerful bloodlust enhanced by the mutation, felt to her.
*Crack, crack* After Vincent made a Lion’s Roar with twenty-five percent power, he cracked his neck in preparation for his upcoming fight.
“Zero. Are you ready?” Vincent asked. He wanted to make sure who would be his first target.
After Vincent’s question was heard by Zero, multiple tendrils emerged from the ground. They curved around Awa, Plow, and Zero, forming a dome with many layers.
One group was safe, while the other was in the middle of two large magic beasts. The backup arrived, yet the ten three-foot tall male Cefeyes were nothing compared to the six feet tall snow tiger.
[Vincent... the two magic beasts have stats slightly higher than yours in this current weakened state. Please stay safe. I will watch your back.]
Vincent felt reassured to have a trusting partner always with him. He smirked and said three times, “Critical Time, Critical Time, Critical Time.”
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[Notice]
[Critical Time Activated. Overheat time reduced by half.]
[The host has gained 5% proficiency with bonded retainers named Ester, Lupa, Iris, Lilith, and Sakura.]
[Total Overheat time remaining. 4 min 10 sec.]
[Critical Time Synergy 5%]
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[Notice]
[Critical Time Activated. Overheat time reduced by half.]
[The host has gained 5% proficiency with bonded retainers named Ester, Lupa, Iris, Lilith, and Sakura.]
[Total Overheat time remaining. 2 min 5 sec.]
[Critical Time Synergy 10%]
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[Notice]
[Critical Time Activated. Overheat time reduced by half.]
[The host has gained 5% proficiency with bonded retainers named Ester, Lupa, Iris, Lilith, and Sakura.]
[Total Overheat time remaining. 1 min 2.5 sec.]
[Critical Time Synergy 15%]
.....
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Vincent’s gaze became cold, his eyes shone brighter, and his pupils changed to that of a wolf. Vincent gave the air of a predator.