The mutated Tibetan Mastiff slowly advanced toward the crowd, its deep breathing echoing in everyone's ears, pressing heavily on their hearts. The underground base was eerily silent, with only the sound of its low, rumbling breaths. The people stood still, like criminals awaiting execution, fully aware of the fate awaiting them, and had entirely given up on resistance.
"Chirp..."
A sudden whistle pierced the air at the entrance, followed by a man's playful voice.
"Hey, big dog, come get your bone!"
At the sound of this voice, everyone's eyes widened in disbelief, looking toward the doorway. Who could be so bold as to taunt the mutated Tibetan Mastiff? The audacity left everyone stunned, and at the same time, an unspoken feeling of hope and comfort seemed to arise within them. It was as though the voice held some magical power that could offer them reassurance and peace.
"Rooar..."
The mutated Tibetan Mastiff seemed to understand the words. It immediately spun around, its eyes locked on the human standing at the entrance, and let out an enraged roar.
"Woof woof..."
The pack of mutated dogs around the Tibetan Mastiff, hearing their leader's call, began to howl wildly and charged toward the human who dared to provoke them.
The man at the entrance was none other than Di Ping. Upon hearing the gunfire, he and his group had hurried to the plaza, only to find that there were no mutated dogs in sight. The doorway to the underground mall stood wide open, and they could hear growls from within. Di Ping immediately understood that the mutated dogs had breached the base and rushed in without hesitation.
When he saw the mutated Tibetan Mastiff, he was momentarily taken aback. The creature was massive—larger than a cow—but quickly used an appraisal skill to assess it.
"Mutated Tibetan Mastiff: Bloodline Rank: D, Abilities: Berserk, Enhancement Level: First Stage, Level 2, Skills: Tear and Bite"
Seeing this information, Di Ping felt a sense of dread. This was the first time he had encountered a mutated animal with a bloodline rank. The "D" rank suggested that mutated animals, like humans, might have their own classification system—humans have potential levels, while mutated creatures have bloodline ranks. This Tibetan Mastiff, with its bloodline rank, was undoubtedly more powerful than the giant snake they had faced earlier. Di Ping couldn't help but worry whether he could handle it.
Despite his apprehension, looking at the massive creature before him, a wave of intense excitement surged in Di Ping's chest. Di Ping was naturally combative, and the sight of such a formidable enemy didn't instill fear but instead ignited a fierce fighting spirit.
When he saw the mutated Tibetan Mastiff break through the framework and begin to move toward the crowd, Di Ping realized he had no choice but to use his taunting skill to draw the beast's attention. If it attacked the crowd, the ordinary people would have no chance, and only death awaited them.
The moment Di Ping taunted the mutated Tibetan Mastiff, it was enraged. It roared, ordering its pack to tear apart the audacious human who dared challenge it.
"Jina!"
Di Ping stood his ground and, with a low command, swiftly moved to the side, revealing a figure cloaked in black. This momentary distraction caused both the people in the base and the mutated dogs to pause in confusion. In the instant of hesitation, the beast's charge slowed. At that very moment, Jina extended two slender, pale hands from within the black cloak, her hands glowing with a red light.
"Fire Ignition..."
A clear, melodious voice rang out, like a refreshing breeze sweeping through the hearts of everyone present. In that moment, all the tension seemed to evaporate. It felt as though the danger had been momentarily forgotten, and all they could think about was the beautiful face that must lie beneath the cloak.
But before they could think further, the firestorm began. The moment the woman's voice finished, dozens of fist-sized fireballs shot from her hands, streaking through the air toward the approaching pack of mutated dogs. The fireballs moved with lightning speed, leaving behind a trail of red light, and in the blink of an eye, they exploded at the center of the mutated dog pack.
"Boom, boom, boom..."
A series of deafening explosions rocked the air as the fireballs erupted upon contact with the mutated dogs, their bodies bursting apart in fiery explosions. The fireballs fragmented into hundreds of smaller ones, scattering in all directions and detonating like firecrackers. The entire space seemed to be consumed by flames.
The mutated dogs, their bodies shredded by the explosions, yelped in agony as they writhed in the fiery chaos. The flames clung to their fur like poison, rapidly igniting any dog they touched, their burnt flesh releasing a sickening smell that filled the air. The agonized howls of the mutated dogs echoed through the mall.
Everyone stood frozen in shock. Was this the same woman with the enchanting voice?
This was brutality at its finest. In mere moments, the vicious pack of mutated dogs had been reduced to charred remains. It was terrifying!
The onlookers now feared even peeking at the black-cloaked figure, for they no longer believed that a beautiful woman would emerge from beneath the cloak. Instead, they were afraid that an ominous, terrifying being would reveal itself.
Even the mutated Tibetan Mastiff was stunned. It stopped growling, its gaze shifting nervously to the fire-engulfed dogs. A flicker of fear crossed its eyes as it took an uneasy step back, emitting a low, rumbling growl.
Animals instinctively fear fire, and this Tibetan Mastiff, though mutated, was no exception. The flames clung to the dogs, and the fear of being consumed by the inferno made even the mighty beast uneasy.
The mutated dogs, howling in distress, rolled frantically on the ground, no longer focusing on attacking Di Ping. Jina continued to push her hands forward, her eerie blue eyes glowing under the fire's reflection, her gaze never leaving the burning dog pack. She only stopped once the last of the dogs had been reduced to charred heaps.
The flames began to dissipate, as if they had never been there, leaving only the sizzling sound of the blackened remains on the ground and the lingering smell of roasting meat in the air, confirming that the events were not a mere illusion.