Chapter 18: Damn it! I’ve been played by that brat; I shouldn't have run!

Under normal circumstances, Zhu Zhihan’s strength was roughly seven to eight times that of an ordinary Beast Tamer and their beast of the same level. Yet, with Lin Yao’s innate talent of Attribute Multiplication amplifying her power, her advantage soared to seventy or even eighty times greater! In such a scenario, it was utterly impossible for most Beast Tamers and their beasts of the same level to face Zhu Zhihan head-on. Even a Fire Rooster eight levels above her could not withstand a single strike from her.

When the Fire Rooster was instantly killed by Zhu Zhihan’s opening move, Zheng Hong and the others immediately grasped the gravity of the situation. They began to contemplate retreat. Unfortunately, Lin Yao’s Shadow Wolves had already encircled them tightly. Four Shadow Wolves surrounded Captain Zheng Hong alone, while the other two comrades each had three Shadow Wolves clinging to them relentlessly.

Meanwhile, Old Wang, having fled far away, did not witness with his own eyes how the Fire Rooster had perished through the shared vision granted by the Surveillance Gargoyle. He only heard the Fire Rooster’s last words, estimating Lin Yao’s strength to be between level 16 and 18. After that, there was silence on their side.

However, at this moment, Old Wang observed through the vision that the Shadow Wolves were fiercely battling Zheng Hong and his team. After watching for a while, regret flooded his heart.

“Damn it!”

“That brat tricked me!”

“I shouldn’t have run!”

Old Wang had already realized that although Lin Yao’s Shadow Wolves were formidable, they were not overwhelmingly powerful. Four Shadow Wolves attacking Zheng Hong, who was in his centaur archer form, were actually being pressed back by him. In the other two skirmishes, the Shadow Wolves leveraged their numerical advantage to gain some upper hand.

Old Wang quickly concluded that Lin Yao’s strength was just above level 16, certainly not exceeding 18. Likewise, Lin Yao’s main combat beast, Zhu Zhihan, was roughly on par with him. The Shadow Wolves’ strength was mostly just around level 15 individually, their advantage lying solely in numbers. In other words, had he not fled, even if some of his team perished, they could have wiped out Lin Yao’s group completely by the end of the battle.

This thought filled Old Wang with deep regret. But the Fire Rooster was already down, so returning now was pointless. To prevent Lin Yao from tracing him through the link forged by the supernatural equipment, Old Wang chose to end his observation abruptly by detonating the Surveillance Gargoyle.

With that done, Old Wang identified his direction and prepared to seek refuge with the Greedy Wolf Demon Hunting Squad. They had long extended an olive branch to him, and being outlaws wanted by the North Wind City authorities, they were kindred spirits. Besides, he could not face Xia Mengying alone, nor could he snatch the treasures or the item he was so interested in from her.

Meanwhile, Captain Zheng Hong and his two remaining comrades were still locked in a desperate struggle against Lin Yao’s Shadow Wolves. Zheng Hong, a peak level 17 Beast Tamer, was formidable enough to hold his own even when surrounded by four Shadow Wolves. However, the other two unfortunate teammates were far less capable. Facing three Shadow Wolves each, they soon succumbed, brutally slain by the wolves’ razor-sharp claws.

Now, Zheng Hong found himself besieged by ten Shadow Wolves. As the saying goes, many ants can kill an elephant. Surrounded tightly by ten Shadow Wolves, Zheng Hong’s pressure swelled drastically.

When the Shadow Wolves hemmed him in completely, Lin Yao noticed a problem. Zhu Zhihan, standing beside him, saw the faint furrow of his brow and asked with concern, “Brother Lin, is something wrong?”

Lin Yao nodded. “Look, after the Shadow Wolves surround him, there’s no suitable space for an effective attack. So, besides the Shadow Wolves who can confront him head-on, I need other shadow-type beasts, especially those skilled in ranged attacks.”

Against a giant monster, of course, overwhelming numbers of Shadow Wolves could swarm it. But to deal with an opponent like Zheng Hong, beasts proficient in ranged combat were essential to inflict greater damage. These beasts need not encircle Zheng Hong tightly like the Shadow Wolves; as long as they could land their damage, that would suffice.

As Lin Yao finished speaking, Zhu Zhihan lifted her chin slightly, pride shining in her eyes. She straightened her posture and softly said, “Brother Lin, I can do it!”

At the same time, a golden thunderball flickered into existence in her hand.

Clearly, Zhu Zhihan’s Lightning Conduction skill had many forms. Not only could she summon thunder spears from the sky, but she could also form this continuously charging annihilation thunderball to unleash a burst of power.

Lin Yao gazed at the terrifying thunderball in Zhu Zhihan’s palm, filled with annihilative energy, his interest piqued.

He asked curiously, “Zhihan, can you use this thunderball to catch him off guard and kill him?”

Zhu Zhihan shook her head and replied sweetly, “I don’t know, Brother Lin.”

In her view, Zheng Hong was still very strong. Even with Lin Yao’s Attribute Multiplication talent enhancing her power, it was still somewhat difficult to kill Zheng Hong with a single thunderball.

However, she quickly added softly, “Brother Lin, I can try my best to fully gather a thunderball!”

Lin Yao nodded. “Good. Let me know when the thunderball is ready. I’ll have the Shadow Wolves break formation, then you strike him directly.”

Far away in the battle, Zheng Hong had no time to pay attention to the conspicuous plotting between Lin Yao and Zhu Zhihan. He had shifted from his centaur archer form to his centaur spear-and-shield form. Yet, even so, facing ten Shadow Wolves simultaneously, he was starting to feel overwhelmed.

Zheng Hong understood the principle: “It’s better to sever one finger than to injure all ten.” However, up to this point in the battle, he had hopelessly realized that no matter what he did, he could not kill these Shadow Wolves clinging to him like persistent parasites. It seemed that whatever method he employed was futile.

He immediately grasped that he must break through at all costs, or else death was certain today.

Just as he prepared to break out, as if sleep had brought a pillow, an opportunity arrived.

“Disperse!”

For some unknown reason, Lin Yao suddenly ordered the Shadow Wolves to scatter.

Upon seeing this heavenly chance, how could Zheng Hong not flee?

Yet, at the very moment Zheng Hong galloped forward with all four hooves, Zhu Zhihan released the annihilation thunderball she had charged to its limit.