Chapter 131: Defeat Them One by One [2]

Had an ordinary person suffered such a grievous injury, they would have undoubtedly lapsed into a coma long ago from blood loss and agonizing pain. However, this was a Level 3 werewolf; its vitality, pain tolerance, and willpower were vastly superior to those of a human, allowing it to remain barely conscious.

"Damn it! We are under attack by a human! All hands to defensive positions!"

Hearing the shrill cry of the Level 3 werewolf shaman, the Level 4 werewolf chieftain immediately whipped his head around, letting out a roar in the werewolf tongue that Zhang Ran could not comprehend.

At the chieftain's command, every werewolf in the vicinity dropped their food at once, sprang to their feet, snatched up their weapons, and entered a state of high alert. Meanwhile, a venerable-looking Level 4 werewolf shaman with grizzled fur and a wolf-headed staff in hand rose to his feet and strode over to the wounded shaman.

"Do not worry, let me heal you!" the elder shaman said in the werewolf tongue, his face etched with a look of tenderness.

Among the werewolves, the shaman and his disciples usually shared a deep, master-apprentice bond; the wounded Level 3 shaman was the elder's own student, and seeing him in such pain pained the master deeply.

"Thank you, Master!"

As the younger werewolf expressed his gratitude, the elder tightened his grip on the wolf-headed staff, closed his eyes, and began to chant. A faint cyan glow emanated from his body, converging upon the staff and pulsing with potent vitality.

"Healing Spell!"

The Level 4 shaman slowly extended his staff, pressing the wolf-headed tip against the wounded area. Green light flowed from the staff, seeping into the younger werewolf’s body and gathering at the wound to form a membrane that sealed the flesh and stemmed the blood flow. More than that, under the powerful regenerative influence of the spell, fresh granulation tissue began to sprout and grow, rapidly knitting the wound back together.

While the elder shaman was busy with the treatment, Zhang Ran had quietly shifted his position. He quickly crouched down, drew an MMT-Striker Type 2 automatic rifle from his space box, and pulled the trigger once more.

"Bang!"

Sparks erupted from the muzzle. A bullet tore through the air with a piercing, sharp whistle, streaking toward the head of the remaining, uninjured Level 3 shaman.

Unlike the first surprise attack, this shaman was prepared. Before the bullet could strike, he invoked his "Shield Spell." Flecks of blue energy coalesced before him, forming a shimmering barrier. Had it been a standard AM41 rifle round, it surely would have been blocked, but against the high-velocity projectile of the MMT-Striker Type 2, the blue energy shield crumbled and shattered into fading motes of light in less than half a second.

After piercing the shield, the bullet lost only thirty percent of its velocity before continuing its lethal path, smashing directly into the Level 3 shaman’s forehead.

Like a bursting watermelon, the shaman's head exploded instantly. Crimson blood and brains splattered in all directions, staining the fur of the nearby werewolves.

"Damn human! To dare kill a shaman of our tribe—I will skin him and pull out his bones!"

Watching the headless body of the shaman collapse limply, the Level 4 chieftain’s eyes burned with even greater fury as he bellowed in the werewolf tongue.

"Chieftain, to kill our shaman in a single strike, that human cannot be weak. Let me accompany you to avenge our brother!" The Level 4 Great Elder stood up, his eyes flashing with rage, and roared in agreement.

"Agreed! We shall strike together, hunt that human down, rip out his heart, and avenge our fallen kin!" The chieftain nodded, his voice booming with resolve.

The Level 4 shaman, having finished the healing process, stepped up beside the chieftain and the Great Elder. "Chieftain, Great Elder, humans are cunning creatures. Be careful of ambushes while you track him! I will cast a 'Blessing Spell' to enhance your combat prowess!"

Raising his staff, the elder began his incantation. "Very well, I am in your debt!" the chieftain replied.

As the elder chanted, an orange glow surged from his body, crossing the air to envelop the chieftain and the Great Elder. Bolstered by the blessing, the two felt a surge of warmth as their physical attributes increased by five percent. Without delay, they charged out of the camp, sprinting in the direction of Zhang Ran’s second shot.

"Excellent. With the shamans and low-level werewolves out of the way, taking down two Level 4 combat-type werewolves shouldn't be too difficult."

Seeing the chieftain and the Great Elder take the bait and pursue him alone, a faint smile played on Zhang Ran’s lips. He intentionally left behind subtle traces to lure them further.

"Over there! Pursue him! With our speed, that human won't get far!" Sensing the trail, the chieftain roared, and together with the Great Elder, they broke into a full-speed sprint.

Zhang Ran slowed his pace; had he utilized his full 10.7 agility, the two Level 4 werewolves would have surely lost him. Ten minutes later, having moved about ten kilometers from the camp, Zhang Ran stopped. With a flick of his mind, he drew his Level 2 alloy machete from the space box, channeled his mental energy, and reached for the third blood-fire-shaped ability rune on the Tree of Evolution within his sea of consciousness.