Chapter 34: Battle in the Subway Station
The figure walking out step by step from the shadows was not an individual, but more like an extension of the shadows.
Nothing could be seen beneath the black hood.
That oversized black windbreaker seemed to be quite old.
The decorations and insignia on the windbreaker were already blurred and indistinct.
The frayed hem and cuffs of the windbreaker were all jagged and uneven.
The broken fibers of the clothing fluttered powerlessly with the slight breeze.
The windbreaker was clearly too large in size; because the sleeves were too long, both arms were secured with belts to hold the sleeves in place.
This strange attire was impressive at first glance.
The color of the clothes was also no longer its original pure black; large patches of dark red had already spread across the windbreaker.
It wasn't hard to see that these were traces left after blood had soaked in and dried.
Even from tens of meters away, we could faintly smell the strong scent of blood emanating from it.
The most eye-catching thing was the huge scythe dragged on the ground in the person's hand.
It was entirely black with almost no patterns or decorations.
It didn't reflect light, and we couldn't tell what metal it was made of.
However, the dark red blood slowly dripping along the curve of the blade was enough to demonstrate its dangerousness.
To be able to walk independently in this nuclear wasteland area without any protective measures, the thin and petite figure exuded a dangerous aura no weaker than that of a mutated beast.
To be able to wield that giant scythe and cleave a Headhunter Wild Dog in two with a single strike, even that Tier 2 Headhunter Wild Dog leader showed deep apprehension.
Not a scavenger, not a mercenary, not a raider, nor a soldier of the standing army… it absolutely couldn't even be human!
Combining his own observations and Researcher Han Nianling’s earlier behavior, Uncle Lin already had a faint guess in his heart, but this guess was too shocking for him.
Even with multiple pieces of corroborating evidence, there was still a sense of unreality.
He could never imagine that he would have such close contact with such an existence under these circumstances.
Xiao Liu beside him somewhat couldn't understand the current situation, but the ominous figure, the dangerous aura, and the reactions of the others were enough to make him maintain absolute silence.
He even held the contamination alarm, which had already stopped beeping, tightly in his hand.
This hidden human squad did not attract the attention of the figure or the pack of Headhunter Wild Dogs; they were the main parties in the current conflict.
At least, the Headhunter Wild Dog pack focused all its attention on the uninvited guest.
“Growl growl growl growl……”
The bloody scent of their companion did not make them fearful; instead, it incited the ferocity of this pack of Headhunter Wild Dogs.
They slowly moved their steps, exchanging positions, forming an encircling posture.
They did not press in tightly, intending to compress the opponent's room for maneuver.
This was their long-inhabited den; for the continuation of their pack in the wasteland, they had no reason to flinch.
The figure seemed unmoved by the Headhunter Wild Dogs’ actions, merely tightening its grip on the giant scythe in secret.
When the confrontation was about to continue for another minute, the Headhunter Wild Dog pack finally made its move.
When the leader of the Headhunter Wild Dog pack let out a short but high-pitched howl, the pack's offensive officially began.
Four Headhunter Wild Dogs, located on either side of the figure, pounced towards this intruder at the same time.
Simultaneously, other Headhunter Wild Dogs, pressing closer, rapidly approached from different directions, yet deliberately left room for the opponent to maneuver in the front, not only to maximize the advantage of their numbers but also to prevent the opponent from retreating into the narrow stairwell.
Cutting off the opponent’s escape route, forcing them away from the stairwell and into the hall, where they could then completely tear the opponent apart in their home territory – this was the strategy this pack of Headhunter Wild Dogs had adopted from the beginning.
It also made us onlookers marvel at the intelligence of this pack of Headhunter Wild Dogs.
Fortunately, we had acted with extreme caution earlier; otherwise, facing such an intelligent group of beasts head-on, we would have undoubtedly suffered heavy losses.
Facing the Headhunter Wild Dogs’ actions, the figure also took action.
I didn’t know if it was my own illusion, but a flowing breeze carried a faint, almost imperceptible cold snort to our ears.
Before our gazes could catch up with the figure’s movements, that giant scythe swung again.
The slash came from top to bottom, the arc of the blade cutting into the skin, once again reaping another life.
“Thump, thump……”
The lifeless corpse fell into the stairwell behind, tumbling down the steps, creating a series of bone-chilling cracking sounds and splattering internal organs and blood all the way.
But no one would pay attention to the miserable state of the corpse; the initiated battle focused all attention in the hall on this engagement.
Although one Headhunter Wild Dog was killed first, the pack’s offensive did not weaken in the slightest.
Their encirclement still existed.
The reduction of one Headhunter Wild Dog did not turn the tide for the figure.
Instead, after that initial strike, the pouncing Headhunter Wild Dogs were already close at hand.
The swung giant scythe seemed unlikely to be retracted in time for a second strike.
Just as it was about to be overwhelmed by the pouncing pack of Headhunter Wild Dogs, the giant scythe, following the momentum of its swing, smashed into the ground.
The figure itself then lightly leaped from the ground, using the heavy momentum of the scythe to lever itself up by its long handle.
Without any accumulation of strength, it leaped several meters into the air, flipping right over the heads of the Headhunter Wild Dog pack.
It wasn't just evasion.
The scythe, brought up with it, was held behind its back.
Along with the figure's body flipping, it also flipped, the hooked blade of the scythe cleaving into the face of a Headhunter Wild Dog.
Its body was split almost evenly left and right.
Gushing blood splattered, adding another glaring splash of color to the back of the already dark red windbreaker.
Whoosh—
Twisting its body, it landed steadily.
Even the surrounding dust was only slightly stirred up.
After breaking free from the Headhunter Wild Dogs' encirclement, it didn't take another step but instead retracted the giant scythe, flinging off the bloodstains on it, and then stood still, maintaining its initial posture.
After the target escaped the encirclement, the Headhunter Wild Dog pack immediately turned and quickly surrounded the figure again.
But this time, not a single one dared to be the first to initiate combat.
They constantly moved around, and the situation once again fell into a stalemate.
After successively losing three companions, the Headhunter Wild Dog pack became much more cautious.
The strength displayed by the opponent just now was enough to make these ordinary Headhunter Wild Dogs realize the gap between them.
They dared not use their numerical advantage to compensate; once they suffered heavy losses, their pack would lose its foothold in the wasteland.
But what about the current intruder?
“Awooo—”
A long howl reverberated within the hall, causing all the Headhunter Wild Dogs to halt their steps and also making the figure’s just-relaxed hand tighten its grip once more.
The head beneath the hood tilted slightly, bringing the direction from which the sound came into its line of sight.
That Tier 2 Headhunter Wild Dog leader seemed to be about to make a move……
Its massive body did not affect its agility as a Headhunter Wild Dog in the slightest.
It leaped down from a height of more than ten meters.
However, its weight caused the ground to tremble thrice.
A few withered and dead potted plants standing not far from us squad members were also shaken down.
Fortunately, the sound from over here did not attract any attention.
It approached the figure step by step.
The Headhunter Wild Dogs on both sides immediately and obediently lowered their bodies and, raising their tails, quickly moved away, clearing a path for their leader.
As if having received some kind of command, all the Headhunter Wild Dogs retreated, running to a place tens of meters away.
Although their claws and teeth were still bared, they no longer had any intention of joining the battlefield.
It seemed this leader was going to solve it alone.
These ordinary Headhunter Wild Dogs could hardly inflict damage on the intruder.
In a battle of that level, the addition of this much combat power would only increase the pack’s casualties.
Only a leader like this could face it.
The Headhunter Wild Dog leader stopped at a distance of less than ten meters from the figure.
It was almost three times the figure's height, and just looking at it gave a strong sense of oppression, not to mention its long, sharp fangs and claws.
What kind of power was hidden in the bulging muscle groups beneath its fur was unimaginable for us ordinary humans.
“Oh? Not planning to run away?”
For the first time, that figure spoke.
Her voice clearly reached the ears of every member of our squad.
It was an extremely young and crisp voice, like that of a girl in her early teens.
Although it was deliberately lowered by the speaker and carried a slight hoarseness, it was very pleasant to listen to.
However, after witnessing her kill three Headhunter Wild Dogs in quick succession moments ago, no one dared to think that beneath that oversized windbreaker was a harmless, ordinary young girl.
There was no emotion mixed in her voice, only pure calmness.
To be so composed when facing a Tier 2 Headhunter Wild Dog, her strength shocked every one of us in the squad.
The giant scythe, which had been dragged on the ground, was now propped on her shoulder, as if she was ready for battle.
On the other side, the Headhunter Wild Dog leader also arched its body.
The contracting arrector pili muscles made the fur on its body stand up like needles.
Its pair of red-glowing pupils cast an extremely sharp gaze at the opponent.
“Boom!!!”
Suddenly, the Headhunter Wild Dog’s pupils contracted sharply.
At the same time, the power accumulated in its legs was released in that instant.
Crossing this distance of more than ten meters took but a blink of an eye.
In the next second, the Headhunter Wild Dog’s massive forelimbs had already slammed down on the spot where the figure had been standing.
Along with the violent tremor of the ground, countless cracks spread out to the surroundings.
The ear-piercing roar, amplified by the echo, resounded throughout the entire subway station, making us involuntarily cover our ears to reduce the harm from the sound.
It hit… No! It didn't!
A figure shot out from the flying dust, not retreating, but quite the opposite, heading towards the direction of that Headhunter Wild Dog leader.