Chapter 1035: Rainfall in the Valley: Wolves, Tigers, and Traps

So far, Xia Qing had spotted three drifters: two in the cave halfway up the mountain across from her, responsible for spreading bait, currently moving about the valley; and the third, the squad leader, hiding in a cave about five meters below her.

There was another drifter she couldn’t see from her position, but she managed to lock onto his location using only her hearing. He was about 250 meters up and to Xia Qing’s left. This one had mimicked a birdcall three times to transmit messages—likely the team’s spotter, an evolved with enhanced sight. Xia Qing could only guess why he used birdcalls instead of a walkie-talkie.

Besides those four, based on the current situation, Xia Qing deduced the positions and missions of the other three members of their squad.

The fifth was hiding deep in the northern valley’s woods, using a command device to control a massive collared lizard that was driving wild boar and wolves their way. By tracking the lizard’s hiding spot and the range of its collar control device, Xia Qing had already narrowed down the area where it hid.

The sixth member’s only job was to lure an evolved tiger this way. She’d heard its low rumbling sound echoing from the peak opposite, but neither the person nor his giant lizard mount had appeared. Their exact spot was now unknown.

A complete combat squad always has a sniper, so the seventh, who’d yet to show themselves, had to be their sniper.

The scavenger squad had arrived in this valley first. Their sniper must have claimed the best perch. Since Xia Qing came later, following Alpha through winding tunnels to this cramped cave, she couldn’t get out—stuck with a limited view, unable to figure out where the enemy sniper was hiding.

It’s Devastation Rain season: a seven-man scavenger squad rich in jungle combat experience, frenzied animals all over the valley, and tigers from the West that might be friend or foe…

Yang Jin had told her not to act tough and to call for backup if things went south. And by conventional standards, she’d definitely reached her limit and should ask for help—except Xia Qing couldn’t.

First, she was too close to the enemy squad leader, so to avoid detection, Xia Qing had powered off both her phone and her walkie-talkie.

Second, the organizer and captain of this operation—the Western Wolf King—still hadn’t made an appearance. It clearly had its own plan for this fight, and Xia Qing couldn’t make a move before the first strike was ordered.

The tiger’s roar sent most of the valley’s still-rational animals scattering. But one raptor, still tearing into giant lizard meat nearby, kept eating. Not far from the bird, two drifters played dead, collapsed by a tree stump—utterly motionless.

The two collared giant lizards left alive in the valley huddled trembling under trees.

“Crack—”

“Awoo!!!”

Panicked wild boar trampled right over the trap set by the scavenger squad, crashing into the pit below with piercing, frantic squeals.

The evolved tiger—easily stronger than even the Western Wolf King—stood on the distant peak, surveying the chaos in the valley. Its pale yellow eyes locked onto the six giant wolves charging in from the north, and it let out a low growl.

Crouching low, tail flicking, the tiger struck the classic stance of a beast about to charge down the mountain.

Xia Qing couldn’t help but think, Another brain-evolved beast. Just my luck.

“No doubt, it’s an evolved with brain-based abilities. Its eyes are bloodshot, though—about to lose control. Can’t let ’em fight and ruin the pelts. With the traps down, once the tiger and wolves are in the valley, wait for my signal—double up the dose when you release the medicine!”

Both Xia Qing and the drifter below simultaneously figured out the tiger’s evolution ability.

Devastation Rain fell again, a steady drizzle. The tiger on the mountain and the wolf pack in the valley all took shelter beneath the big trees, their standoff starting with a round of thunderous roars.

Even with two apex predators roaring, the lure of mutant meat and insect bait drew countless frenzied animals—already out of control or on the verge—rushing into the valley to fight for food.

Under the tree, the two pretending to be corpses slowly inched their hands toward their bags.

Devastation Rain, beastly roars, and opponents ready to move—this was the perfect window for a sniper. In the damp cave, Xia Qing’s eyes hardened. Left knee bent, right foot braced on rock, muzzle aimed down, she began a silent count.

If she made it to three and the Northern Wolf King hadn’t given the command, she’d act on her own!

“One…”

Right as she hit one, Xia Qing saw the Northern Wolf King appear on the peak diagonally opposite, already set to attack.

No doubt, the enemy sniper was hiding there.

“Go!”

“Bang!”

“Bang!”

“Bang!”

Xia Qing fired the same instant the squad leader below shouted the order. The Northern Wolf King pounced from the opposite peak, pinning a human flat.

Below, the squad leader and the two ‘living corpses’ in the valley were struck by sniper rounds—dead now, with no more need to play.

Target down, Xia Qing raised her right arm and lobbed a grenade toward the upper left, then instantly tucked herself away inside the cave.

“Bang!”

“Boom!”

“Crack!”

The grenade’s explosion triggered a Devastation Explosion as expected. Unless the spotter up left had evolved for speed or elasticity, there was no way he survived.

“Awooooo—”

Crouched inside the cave, Xia Qing heard the Northern Wolf King on the mountainside let out a long, commanding howl. With that, she knew the spotter was as good as dead, and no other threats on high could challenge her or Alpha.

Xia Qing kicked aside a rock at the cave’s entrance, crawled out onto the slope, rain pouring down as she scanned for the drifter who had used the lizard to herd the wild boar and wolves.

“Awooooo—”

With a furious roar, the evolved tiger charged downhill straight at Xia Qing.

“Awooooo—” Alpha let out a piercing howl and leapt into the valley to rejoin the Western Wolf Pack—seven wolves against one tiger.

The six giant wolves of the Western Pack launched themselves, intercepting the evolved tiger and shielding Xia Qing.

Ignoring the thunder of falling trees and cracking rocks all around, Xia Qing focused her sight, pushing her vision ability to the limit. Through the rain, she quickly picked out her target and fired twice in rapid succession.

Bang! Bang!

Empty shells hit the ground, blending into the relentless drum of rain on stone. But the result wasn’t so sweet—the drifter 1,950 meters away, wounded and dragging a leg, dove behind rocky cover.

Xia Qing got to her feet and dashed toward the heart of the valley. “Queen, stop fighting! Take me to that so-called living corpse over there!”

Eyes bloodshot, the evolved tiger spotted Xia Qing descending the slope, took a swipe from the Western Wolf King, vaulted right over a giant wolf, and came barreling after her.

This thing still knew to dodge the giant wolves, so it hadn’t totally lost it yet. Judging by that, it wanted to take Xia Qing out before going berserk—it wasn’t even afraid of her sniper rifle now.

“Queen, stay back!”

Xia Qing yelled at the Northern Wolf King to halt, slung her rifle, grabbed five soothing capsules, and tossed them all straight into the tiger’s gaping jaws—its throat was wider than her fist. Then she rolled left, slipping past the tiger’s claws and quickly scrambling onto the Western Wolf King’s back.

“Big Wolf, run! Run for it! Queen, lead the way—find the last one of those ‘living corpses’! Move!”

With Devastation Explosions painting the rain red, time was running out. If they waited any longer, not just the tiger—the whole wolf pack—would go berserk.

Like lightning, the Northern Wolf King took the lead, racing toward the western peaks. The Western Wolf King, gifted with evolved elasticity, carried Xia Qing close behind.

Xia Qing glanced back at the five giant wolves and the tiger sprinting after them, heart pounding in her chest.