Chapter 1134: Raptors Rule the Skies

Evolved raptors are fiercely territorial creatures. They claim vast regions as their own and viciously attack or chase off any predatory animal that enters. This intense territorial instinct helps them maintain a dominant position in the Evolved Forest, ensuring plenty of food and a safe spot to survive.

So, just how big is the territory of these winged raptors up in the northern part of Hui Three’s perimeter?

The mountains numbered thirty-eight to forty-eight, on the west side of Section One’s territory in the Northern Evolved Forest, belong to the Western Wolf Pack. From forty-nine to sixty, these mountain ranges make up the territory of the Northern Wolf Pack. Further north, from sixty-one to sixty-seven, is where the Bear Pack reigns.

West of the Bear Pack’s turf, northwest of the Wolf Pack, and north of the Western Wolf Pack’s land—the mountains numbered sixty-eight to eighty-six—form the Raptors’ domain. Their territory is twice the size of the Northern Wolf Pack’s!

Just how overbearing are these raptors?

Inside raptor territory, every raptor—or pair of raptors—is both a collaborator and a rival. When an external threat appears, they help each other. But when there’s no outside danger, they’re each other’s competition.

It’s not just carnivores living there who have to keep their heads down—even human aircraft have to circle wide around this area.

Try flying low over a raptor core zone—especially hovering right above it—and you’ll be seen as an invader. That’s why, every time Devastation Rain ends and the Hui Three Base helicopters go to spray Scourgebane, they have to climb above ten thousand meters. The air thins, oxygen drops, and temperatures plummet up there—most raptors simply won’t fly that high.

But hitting ten thousand meters doesn’t guarantee safety.

In the seventh year since the cataclysm, a Lan Five cargo plane tried to cross the area at that height and ran into a giant, speed-evolved vulture deep in its courtship display. The senior sniper on board managed to shoot the vulture down, but that only drew thirty-five evolved raptors into the air, swarming the plane. Forced to flee toward the heart of the Divine Herb Plains—straight into another raptor group—the crew barely avoided drawing raptors into a massacre of human lands.

After that incident, headquarters at Huicheng scrapped all aerial routes over raptor territory. They also stopped requiring Hui Three Base to spray Scourgebane in those zones after the rain.

But after a year of no spraying, Scourge Grass exploded across the raptor lands. It choked out normal plants, sent smaller animals fleeing, and threw the ecosystem spiraling. With food running short, raptors started looking elsewhere—sparking territory wars with the Wolf Pack, Bear Pack, Tiger Pack and others, even threatening the safety of human territory.

Only after Hui Three Base resumed spraying Scourgebane, reining in the spread, did the six months of nonstop fighting finally come to an end.

Back then, the base radio reported on the beast wars day after day, constantly warning the combat teams to avoid the worst hotspots.

Just this July, a giant raptor that escaped from Gui Five Base reached the northern Evolved Forest and chose to seize Wolf Pack territory right next to the raptors’ lands—proof of its intelligence. Grabbing that patch meant it could live near raptors as a helpful neighbor rather than a rival.

Raptors are one of the snakes’ deadliest natural enemies. They’re far more of a threat to the snakes living in and around Python Lake and the surrounding swamps than even the Bear Pack or Wolf Pack.

Up against raptors, the snake’s Devastation Snake bait barely matters.

That’s because Devastation Snakes use their scent to mess with predators’ emotions—the more snakes around, the thicker the scent, the greater the effect. But birds have wings. The moment they grab a Devastation Snake, they’re gone.

So when Xia Qing learned the Snake Pack was invading Territory Sixty-Eight, her feelings were complicated.

It meant the python commander now saw her as a bigger threat than even the raptors. That counted as a kind of recognition. The downside? If she wanted to capture a live female Devastation Snake this year, she’d have to venture into raptor territory.

Xia Qing dared ally with the Wolf Pack against the snakes, but picking a fight with the raptors? Absolutely not. Sure, Territory Sixty-Eight was just the edge of their domain, but fighting a raptor even for a strip of meat could set it off. If it turned out to be a Brain Evolution raptor it could swoop right across wolf land and attack the humans in Section One within minutes—with just a few beats of its wings.

Keeping the territory safe mattered way more than catching a Devastation Snake.

Making up her mind, Xia Qing turned to Broken Back Wolf. “Broken Back, the Snake Pack is changing course. They’re heading for Territory Sixty-Eight.”

Just one look into Broken Back Wolf’s eyes, and Xia Qing could read its thoughts easily. She rifled through her backpack and pulled out a map. “We’re right here. This is Python Lake—they’ve abandoned us. Right now they’re invading this place, Sixty-Eight.”

Broken Back Wolf stared at the map for several seconds, then lifted its head toward the northeast.

“Not that way, over here.” Xia Qing raised her hand to point northwest, looking out at the faint line of land in the distance. “That’s Sixty-Eight, part of the raptors’ territory. The snakes are over there.”

Understanding dawned on Broken Back Wolf. It trotted off and brushed against Alpha, then let out a howl and called four more wolves. They were about to leave the valley.

“Handsome Wolf,” Xia Qing quickly called after Broken Back, “are you really going to Sixty-Eight?”

Broken Back bared its fangs in a toothy grin.

What for—just to watch? Or looking to swoop in and scavenge whatever’s left? Xia Qing thought it over, then asked, “Can I come with you?”

Broken Back immediately shut its mouth and ran off without another word.

Xia Qing was left standing there—

Feeling thoroughly snubbed…

With no snake threat around, the wolves and bears lazed about in the valley. Xia Qing took the chance to report the Snake Pack’s new movements to her idol.

Zhang San replied, “Raptors overhead definitely pose a greater threat to the Snake Pack, but to the giant pythons in the lake, you’re far more dangerous than any bird.”

That’s the idol for you—straight to the point. Raptors can pick off small and midsized snakes, but there’s no way they can carry off a python hundreds or thousands of kilos heavy. Once those giants retreat into their territory or hide away underground, raptors are powerless against them.

From Zhang San’s end came the sound of rapid-fire typing. “Based on satellite magnetic readings, the magnetic field in your area is getting less chaotic. If the Snake Pack’s actions are linked to those changes, this invasion of Sixty-Eight is probably a last-ditch gamble—and our final chance this year to catch a live female white snake. Think the Wolf Pack would let you bring a team in to the lake and catch one?”

Diving straight into the lake to grab a Devastation Snake? Xia Qing instantly understood which team Zhang San meant, but she had doubts. “White snakes are a favorite snack for wolves and bears. Chances are, they won’t let me. I’ll ask and get back to you.”

After hanging up, Xia Qing ran over to Alpha and gestured as they talked things out.

Alpha quickly understood. Sure enough, it bared its fangs right at her.

No way!

“Fine, then. No one but me is allowed into Sixty Lake to catch those tasty white snakes.” Xia Qing relayed Alpha’s position to her idol, then pulled out a sturdy, finger-thick rope from her backpack. She bent a steel wire into a fishhook and fixed it to the end, planning to try her luck fishing for snakes off the cliffs.

Just maybe, she thought, luck would shine on her today and she’d haul up a live female Devastation Snake.

“Woof!” Alpha barked a warning and gave Xia Qing a sharp look, signaling her to stay put and not head out on her own.

After all this time with the pack, Xia Qing understood perfectly. She gestured in explanation. “Queen, I’m not going to shoot any pythons—I just want to use this rope to fish for one female white snake I need.”

Alpha’s expression turned grave. The message was clear: Xia Qing was not allowed near the water.

She nodded—message received.

Alpha was right. It figured the snakes only changed course because she was hanging around. If they wanted the snakes to come back, Xia Qing couldn’t go lying in wait by the cliffs.

An invasion by the Snake Pack brings casualties, but it also means a windfall of nutrient-rich prey. Alpha wanted them to return.