"It's Crocodile Lizards, one big and one small," Zhou Wan said urgently. "The big one is nearly three meters long, and the smaller one is about one and a half meters! They've spotted us."
"Damn it!" Liu Feng cursed under his breath, quickly scanning their surroundings. "We can't fight in the water. Lure them ashore. Head to the front—I remember there's a restaurant by the entrance of the neighborhood. Get to the second floor." He pointed to a row of shops about ten meters ahead, outside the residential area. The first floor was already one-third submerged.
"Zhou Wan and Minghu, go first! The three of us will cover the rear. Move!" Liu Feng ordered decisively.
The group immediately sped up, wading through waist-deep water with all their might.
Chen Yan roared, his massive frame shielding the rear of the group. With a baseball bat strapped to his back, he gripped a fire axe tightly in both hands, standing like an unyielding barrier.
The dark shadows beneath the water clearly sensed their prey accelerating and abruptly picked up speed. Two distinct V-shaped ripples spread across the murky surface.
"Han Ning!" Liu Feng shouted.
"Got it." Han Ning's expression was grave as he faced the approaching threat, hands pressing forward in the air.
In an instant, ten dark-green vines, studded with sharp wooden thorns, shot out from the turbid water like venomous snakes on the hunt.
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!
The sound of vines piercing the water echoed continuously.
Most of the vines targeted the smaller, faster Crocodile Lizard. Seven or eight vines coiled tightly around its limbs, neck, and long tail.
"Screech!" The smaller lizard thrashed wildly as the vines constricted, its body jerking to a sudden halt.
The vines stretched taut, emitting an ear-piercing creak as water splashed violently. Han Ning's face twitched involuntarily. He could clearly feel the immense force transmitted through the vines, relentlessly tugging at his arms.
Though this lizard was "small" compared to the larger one, it was still a full size bigger than the juvenile Crocodile Lizard Han Ning had encountered ten days ago. While intermediate-level Vine Manipulation was far more durable than the basic version, it still struggled against the brute strength of these monsters.
Meanwhile, the massive Crocodile Lizard relied on its sheer size and power to barrel through two or three obstructing vines. Its speed barely slowed as it lunged at Chen Yan, jaws gaping wide with rows of razor-sharp teeth, its breath reeking of decay.
"Back off, you monster!" Chen Yan bellowed like thunder, his muscles bulging as a faint, stone-like grayish glow spread across his skin.
Instead of retreating, he charged forward, swinging the sharp fire axe with all his might, aiming straight for the monstrous head emerging from the water.
Boom!!!
A deafening impact resounded, like two trucks colliding, sending water flying in all directions.
Chen Yan grunted as the tremendous recoil sent him stumbling back three steps before he toppled into the thigh-high floodwaters. His grip on the axe nearly failed, his palms split open and bleeding.
The massive Crocodile Lizard, meanwhile, had its head violently knocked down by the crushing blow, its forward momentum abruptly halted.
"Now! Upstairs!" Liu Feng seized the precious moment, roaring the command.
.
Lu Minghu, wielding his buzzing chainsaw, charged toward the restaurant entrance alongside Zhou Wan.
The stairway leading to the second floor still protruded above the water.
Lu Minghu leaped up like an agile cat, with Zhou Wan close behind.
"Han Ning, help Old Chen retreat. I'll cover the rear!"
Liu Feng shouted to Han Ning while narrowing his eyes, locking onto the small Crocodile Lizard that Han Ning had temporarily restrained but was still thrashing wildly.
Several chunks of concrete and a rusted steel pipe scattered in the murky water suddenly lifted into the air as if manipulated by an invisible force. With a whistling sound, they smashed into the small lizard's head and spine!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The dull impacts of heavy objects striking scales echoed.
Though the blows didn't cause severe damage, the sudden pain and force made the small lizard stagger, interrupting its struggle and momentarily halting its pursuit.
Han Ning immediately swung his right hand, leaving only two Vines to continue harassing the small lizard.
The remaining Vines swiftly shifted direction, wrapping around the fallen Chen Yan and yanking him backward, putting distance between him and the larger Crocodile Lizard.
The four of them rushed upstairs as fast as possible.
The stairway led to a narrow hallway flanked by private dining rooms and a larger hall.
The hall was in disarray—overturned tables and chairs, shattered windows, and wind and rain pouring in.
"Block the stairs!" Liu Feng's slightly breathless voice rang out from below as he scrambled up, looking disheveled.
By now, Chen Yan had regained his senses.
"Pah! Pah! Pah!"
He spat out several mouthfuls of filthy water and braced his burly frame at the top of the stairs, holding the fire axe horizontally in front of him.
Han Ning summoned more Vines, weaving them into a crude barrier.
Almost the moment they finished setting up their defense, a bone-chilling roar and violent impacts against the stairs erupted from below.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The wooden stairs groaned under the tremendous force, splinters raining down.
The two Crocodile Lizards were clearly enraged.
"The big one's coming up! Get ready!"
Liu Feng's gaze sharpened as he scanned the hall. Several heavy wooden chairs trembled slightly, as if awakened by an unseen force.
Lu Minghu stood a short distance away, the high-pitched whirring of his chainsaw's spinning chain piercing the ruined hall.
He gripped the saw tightly, eyes fixed on the stairway entrance.
Zhou Wan stood directly facing the stairs, her compound bow drawn. A carbon-fiber arrow, gleaming coldly, rested steadily on the string. The bow was half-drawn, the arrowhead adjusting slightly with her shifting gaze, ready to fire at any moment.
Crash!
With a deafening explosion, the wooden floorboards above the stairway—along with Han Ning's Vine barrier—were obliterated by a terrifying force.
Wood splinters, dust, and broken Vines flew everywhere.
A massive, grotesque head covered in slick, pale scales emerged from the entrance, reeking of foul stench. Its table-tennis-ball-sized yellow slit pupils instantly locked onto Chen Yan, the closest target.
"ROAR!"
The deafening bellow nearly blew the roof off. The enormous Crocodile Lizard forced half its body onto the second floor, swinging its thick forelimb at Chen Yan, who stood in its way.
Chen Yan's reflexes kicked in—his arms suddenly gleamed with a dense, stone-like sheen as he raised the fire axe fearlessly to meet the attack.
Thud—Crack!
A dull, explosive impact rang out.
Chen Yan felt as if he'd been struck by a speeding truck, his feet leaving the ground as he was sent flying backward like a cannonball, crashing through the wooden partition of the restaurant's private room.
The hefty fire axe flew from his grip, spinning through the air before embedding itself in the distant wall.
The giant Crocodile Lizard, having landed its first strike, swung its massive head and lashed out with its barbed tail, aiming directly at Lu Minghu.