"Beast attack!"
Ice flooded Ye Tian's veins.
He'd never encountered a fierce beast before, but the legends were nightmare fuel—creatures that slaughtered ordinary humans like wheat before a scythe. Only warriors possessed the strength to stand against such monsters.
Linhai Base's defensive walls were supposed to keep the beasts out, but sometimes the barriers failed. Sometimes death found its way inside anyway.
For civilians caught in beast encounters, there was only one ending: torn flesh and spilled blood.
"Ye Yu!"
His sister's face flashed through his mind like lightning. Home was barely three streets away, their fragile wooden walls offering no protection whatsoever against supernatural predators. Terror squeezed his chest with iron fingers.
Sprinting through chaotic crowds, he caught glimpses of silver-white death streaking through the far end of the street. Bodies dropped in the shadow's wake—ordinary people who never had a chance to scream.
"That speed is inhuman!"
The creature moved faster than human eyes could track, visible only as a blur of lethal motion. This glimpse came from hundreds of meters away—up close, victims would die before seeing their killer.
"If that thing notices me, I'm dead meat."
Reality check: he wasn't some invincible protagonist blessed with plot armor. Smart people fled from impossible odds, and this qualified as suicide-level danger.
Unfortunately, his legs couldn't match supernatural speed. The beast's trajectory seemed to angle directly toward his position—not targeting him specifically, but converging paths meant inevitable collision.
Beasts didn't ignore convenient prey that wandered into striking distance.
"Die, monster!"
Several warriors charged from a side street, led by a scarred middle-aged man whose blade gleamed with deadly intent. They formed a combat circle around the silver predator with practiced efficiency.
"The Wind Wolf Hunting Squad is here!"
Relief rippled through nearby spectators at the familiar team name.
Ye Tian recognized their reputation immediately. Captain Wind Wolf commanded respect throughout this district—a late-stage Martial Artist backed by over ten early and mid-stage warriors. Their hunting record spoke for itself in accumulated beast corpses and survivor testimonials.
Tension drained from civilian faces as professional monster hunters took control. Some people even pressed closer, eager for entertainment.
"Get back! This beast is dangerous beyond your comprehension!"
Captain Wind Wolf's roar scattered the curious crowd like startled birds.
Combat between warriors and fierce beasts wasn't spectator sport. Collateral damage included shredded bystanders—warriors couldn't protect everyone while fighting for their own lives.
Massive retreat rippled outward as common sense finally prevailed.
Ye Tian withdrew to safe distance but refused to leave entirely. This represented his first chance to witness true martial artist combat in action.
The battle erupted with explosive violence!
Captain Wind Wolf's blade carved through the night air, leaving trails of silver light that illuminated the darkness. His strike split stone pavement for three full meters—a canyon of destruction carved by pure martial force.
The beast flowed around the attack like liquid mercury, too fast for normal perception.
"Incredible power! That sword stroke would bisect a human body instantly. This is warrior-level strength?"
Hunger burned in his chest, raw ambition ignited by witnessing superhuman ability.
Wind Wolf team members drew weapons and engaged from multiple angles, but their expressions remained grim despite numerical advantage.
Suddenly, one warrior flew backward with crimson gashes across his chest, impact echoing like thunder.
"Xiaobai!"
Captain Wind Wolf spared only a worried glance before resuming his assault. No time for medical attention—hesitation meant death for everyone.
The fierce beast bled from multiple wounds, surrounded and outmaneuvered, but far from defeated.
"It's preparing to escape!"
True to prediction, the creature exploded into silver light, bursting through their formation toward open street.
THUNK!
An arrow materialized in the beast's flank, fired by a hidden archer from the shadows. The projectile's impact sent the monster tumbling across stone pavement, finally revealing its true form.
"Silver Moon Marten!"
The beast measured nearly one meter in length, equipped with razor claws and crimson eyes that burned with feral intelligence. Even wounded, it radiated lethal grace.
"Xiao Yue's shot crippled it! Finish the kill quickly—this carcass will fund our team for a month!"
Captain Wind Wolf's excitement was infectious. Silver Moon Marten materials commanded premium prices in the beast-part markets.
The wounded creature seemed finished, but desperation often birthed final miracles.
Silver radiance erupted from the marten's body, its aura expanding dramatically as hidden bloodline power awakened.
"Bloodline stimulation! It's preparing for explosive suicide attack!"
Captain Wind Wolf's warning sent his team scattering backward, creating protective distance from the cornered predator.
BOOM!
But instead of self-destruction, the Silver Moon Marten launched itself directly into the civilian crowd—maximum casualties with minimum effort.
Every warrior's face turned ashen. They understood the beast's vicious strategy perfectly.
"Scatter! Everyone run!"
Captain Wind Wolf's desperate shout came too late.
Bloodline-enhanced speed carried the marten into packed civilians before they could react. Bodies flew through the air like broken dolls, striking pavement with sickening impacts.
THUNK!
Another arrow punched through the beast's torso, Xiao Yue's second shot finding vital organs through previous wounds. The projectile emerged from the opposite side, coated in dark blood.
The Silver Moon Marten collapsed, silver light fading as life drained from its crimson eyes. Death claimed another fierce beast.
Panicked survivors fled in all directions, refusing to approach the corpse despite its obvious demise.
Except for one figure.
A young man approached the fallen predator and placed his palm against its still-warm fur.
"Brave kid! Most people wouldn't dare touch a fresh beast corpse!"
Captain Wind Wolf approached with genuine approval in his voice.
"First time seeing a fierce beast up close. Couldn't resist the curiosity!" The young man's embarrassed tone perfectly concealed his true purpose.
Captain Wind Wolf nodded approvingly. "Good instincts. I can sense you're already a Martial Apprentice—impressive for someone your age. Keep training hard, and maybe you'll reach Martial Artist status someday. When that happens, I'll consider recruiting you into our squad!"
"Thank you for the encouragement, Captain!"
The hunting team departed shortly after, carrying their valuable prize toward the processing centers where beast materials would be converted into weapons and cultivation resources.
The young man remained alone on the blood-stained street, grinning like a complete idiot. Passing civilians assumed he was mentally damaged by witnessing such violence.
After all, becoming a Martial Artist was nearly impossible for most people. Captain Wind Wolf's words were obviously polite encouragement, nothing more.
But Ye Tian's laughter had nothing to do with empty promises.
"Incredible! My second copied talent came from a fierce beast instead of a human!"
His copying ability had just opened an entirely new avenue for power acquisition. Why limit himself to human talents when the world was filled with supernatural creatures possessing abilities that defied natural law?
The possibilities were endless.
[End of Chapter 5]