Chapter 41: The Disappearing World
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
"Swoosh!"
Right at this moment, the sound of an arrow splitting the air rang out. Immediately after, a metal arrow filled with anger and infuriation appeared like a meteor right in front of Fang Zhengzhi.
From its path, its target was aimed right at the Blue Fire Wolf’s eye.
Anger radiated from the faint blue pupils of the Blue Fire Wolf. Once again, its body twisted around, snapping open its two flaming front claws. Its charging body quickly halted to a standstill.
Just a short standstill.
The metal arrow with uncanny accuracy shot past the tip of its nose, carrying along with it the sound of the wind.
Fang Zhengzhi was completely stunned. He didn’t know who shot the arrow, but that arrow, from both its timing and its accuracy, was extremely incredible. Under normal circumstances, it should have pinned itself right inside the left eye of the Blue Fire Wolf, then, blood spurting out into the air.
But...
The Blue Fire Wolf had actually managed to avoid it? This was too extreme! It was actually able to stop?
At this moment, Fang Zhengzhi finally understood, why when twenty-over weapon and bow-wielding villagers encountered the Blue Fire Wolf, they could only run.
Not only was the Blue Fire Wolf’s speed very fast, its flexibility and agility were also incredible.
No matter how proficient one’s archery skills are, one might still not be able to hit it. To be able to continuously change directions up in the air, it meant that it could, at the most crucial moment, avoid any shots to its vital organs.
It was different, compared to those beasts in the previous which had a range of abilities limited to pouncing, biting or sweeping related tactics, it was completely different. Within the pupils of the Blue Fire Wolf, Fang Zhengzhi could sense the presence of wisdom.
"Did you have to…" Fang Zhengzhi was indeed intimidated by the Blue Fire Wolf, but, his instinct to run was still there. Once he saw the Blue Fire Wolf’s astonishing halt, he once again rolled and smoothly hid himself behind a huge stone.
Then, without even having time to catch his breath, a flaming, sharp claw began to reach over.
"Snap!" The huge stone, like a beancurd, quickly shattered.
A huge wolf head, its mouth filled with blood, peeked out from above the stone, its faint blue pupils that stared down at Fang Zhengzhi boiled with rage.
Under normal judgement, Fang Zhengzhi should be running away now.
The Blue Fire Wolf could also somewhat judge that this human kid in front of it would choose to roll backwards once again. Then, at this time, all it needed to do was to leap up towards the location this kid would roll to, and deal the fatal blow.
Yet...
Mysteriously, this time, Fang Zhengzhi didn’t have the intention to roll.
Not only didn’t he roll, he didn’t even bother to run. Staring silently at the Blue Fire Wolf, his eyes were somewhat fearful, but, strangely, it also radiated an air of self-confidence.
"Boom!"
Just when the Blue Fire Wolf became somewhat suspicious, the ground on which its hind claws stepped on melted like snow, then, its humongous body directly fell through the ground...
"An opportunity!" At this moment, Fang Zhengzhi set aside his fears. With a roar, he pushed the entire pile of broken stones in front of him into the pitfall.
"Smash you to death!" Even though he was unsure whether his actions would be consequential, but shouldn’t it at least give him more time? He couldn’t run, what else could he do? He could only force himself to fight.
…
"It fell in again!" A Northern Mountain Village hunting squad member widened his eyes.
"Shoot!" Zhang Yangping once again drew his bow. The bow in his hands faced the skies. That previous arrow was shot by him, just that it was a direct shot. Now, he prepared to do a projectile shot.
The other villagers were also mostly experienced, even though their archery skills couldn’t compare to Zhang Yangping, their cooperated shots were still very proficient.
Instantly, over twenty hunting squad members raised their bows together and shot towards the skies. Over twenty metal arrows rained down into the pitfall where the Blue Fire Wolf lay.
Looking at the rain of arrows, he involuntarily took a step back. The Northern Mountain Village people were… actually helping him?
Recalling the arrow that stopped the Blue Fire Wolf, he quickly confirmed this fact.
Without further hesitation, he rapidly carried up stones, using up all the strength in his body to slam it down into the pitfall. Each broken stone fell with an air-piercing sound, each stone was like a cannon, producing a loud "Boom!" after falling into the pitfall.
"Awoo!" From within the trap, the infuriated howl of the Blue Fire Wolf sounded out once again.
Holed up in such a pitfall, it completely couldn’t leverage on its speed advantage. Every single arrow that fell from the skies landed with uncanny precision and accuracy on its body. Moreover, the impact of those stones was also unusually powerful.
"Boom boom boom…"
The stones and arrows turned into raindrops, continuous and never-ending.
Fang Zhengzhi didn’t hold back. Zhang Yangping and the Northern Mountain Village hunting squad naturally also didn’t hold back. Pulling back the bow, releasing an arrow, once again pulling back the bow, then releasing another arrow, until all the arrows in the quiver behind their backs were expended.
…
"It should be dead." Fang Zhengzhi carefully reached his head into the pitfall. He had already thrown down every single stone he could find around him.
Looking into the trap, all he could see was stones and metal arrows.
Some arrows were even smashed by Fang Zhengzhi, but, those arrowheads were securely impaled on a huge body enveloped in blue fur.
The faint blue pupils snapped open.
"Awoo!" Even when it was expelled by the wolf pack a few years ago, the Blue Fire Wolf had never felt such rage.
It was actually injured by a human child, again and again? Furthermore, he even felt a hint of a death threat. This was the biggest insult to the King’s pride.
"Boom!" A loud sound rang out. The Blue Fire Wolf, trapped by stones and arrows, suddenly moved. It leapt, completely dislodging all those stones and arrows.
At the same time, Fang Zhengzhi suddenly flinched.
Because, at the moment the Blue Fire Wolf shot out, he realised… the bright-red patch of fur that extended from its forehead all the way to its tail started to radiate a ray of blood-red light.
Changed form?
Or was it evolution?
Could it be so exaggerated, were the beasts of this world terrifying to such extremes?!
Fang Zhengzhi didn’t think for too long, and instant broke into a sprint. All the ideas he could think of had already been thought of, all he could do had also been done. Even the Northern Mountain Village hunting squad’s arrows had been completely used up.
Now…
Other than running, what else could he do?
"Awoo!" The Blue Fire Wolf howled deeply. Its humongous body sprang into the air. It absolutely left no chance of escape for Fang Zhengzhi. A front claw, engulfed in flames, slashed towards him.
At this time, would there still be arrows?
The answer was obvious…
Lead it inside another trap and smash it again? That would probably be a waste of energy.
Then, the only choice, was a reckless confrontation!
Staring at the flaming razor-sharp claws in front of him, Fang Zhengzhi’s face turned white as paper with fear. But, he still gritted his teeth, stood his ground, controlling every single movable substance in his body and concentrating them onto his small arm. Once again, he felt that explosive sensation.
"Fire? To hell with the fire!"
There was nothing fanciful about this punch, it was very direct. It didn’t even bring along the sound of wind. In a flash, it came into contact with the sharp claws of the Blue Fire Wolf.
But...
This punch produced a mysterious sensation inside Fang Zhengzhi.
It was too quiet. So quiet that he couldn’t hear anything at all, as if the entire world didn’t exist anymore. All of the flowers, grasses, trees, wood, wind, fire, completely disappeared…
"Boom!"
Between the fist and the claw, a powerful impact caused Fang Zhengzhi’s chest to feel as if it had been smashed, his entire body naturally flew and rolled backwards.
On the other hand, the advancing Blue Fire Wolf, at this moment, also rolled backwards from the same powerful impact.
"Plop!"
Both man and wolf, toppled down at almost the same time.
At this moment, the entire world became quiet beyond imagination. Not too far away, Zhang Yangping and the Northern Mountain Village hunting squad were completely stunned. They simply couldn’t believe.
What happened just now?
It seemed as if the kid and the Blue Fire Wolf met force to force! Then… he and the Blue Fire Wolf actually… actually fell backwards at the same time? Were they… evenly matched?