Han Ning was worried that Liu Feng and his underlings might be watching him and Snowflake from the window.
He instructed Snowflake to lurk beneath the water's surface while he swam toward the residential complex's entrance.
Positioning himself in the blind spot beneath the gate, Han Ning mentally summoned Snowflake.
Splash~
The water rippled to his left front as Snowflake slowly swam to his side.
"Now it's your turn."
Han Ning stepped forward carefully, lying prone on Snowflake's relatively flat back. He wrapped his arms around the creature's thick neck and clamped his legs around its cool body.
This was the method Han Ning had devised for rapid aquatic movement. Walking upright or swimming through the floodwaters would be far too slow for a human. But Snowflake possessed considerable strength—hauling a full-grown adult shouldn't be problematic.
"Let's go!"
"Rrrowr!"
The instant the command was given, Snowflake's powerful tail lashed violently.
Splash!
Water sprayed everywhere as tremendous thrust surged from beneath. Han Ning felt his body lift as they sliced through the turbid water like a high-powered jet ski, racing eastward at breakneck speed.
Snowflake's underwater velocity far exceeded Han Ning's expectations. Its streamlined body barely created wake as its limbs paddled rapidly, the thick tail providing propeller-like propulsion.
Murky currents battered Han Ning's face, carrying the stench of fish and earth. Since his frame was larger than Snowflake's, his lower body remained partially submerged, enduring the friction against the water's surface—an intensely uncomfortable sensation.
He could only squint, straining to identify blurred landmarks ahead.
[Animal Companion (Intermediate) Proficiency +1, Current 55/200]
Tilted lampposts, half-submerged car roofs, floating trash bins—Snowflake deftly avoided all obstacles without losing momentum. The several-hundred-meter distance was covered in mere minutes at full speed.
Ahead appeared a relatively open expanse of water where the terrain dipped slightly. Through the murk, Han Ning could make out the mostly submerged roofs of pavilions and the tilted canopies of ornamental trees. This was Blue Bay Park—the area he'd repeatedly confirmed as having the lowest monster density along the route to White Egret Port.
"Head to the right front—there's a public restroom there." Han Ning pointed toward a square structure with only its roof and partial walls visible above water.
Understanding immediately, Snowflake adjusted course slightly, accelerating like a pale gray arrow loosed from a bow, zeroing in on the derelict restroom.
As they approached, Han Ning released his grip and vaulted upward, barely catching the slippery tiled edge of the restroom. He scrambled somewhat awkwardly onto the shallowly flooded roof.
"Rrr?"
Snowflake didn't follow, instead silently patrolling beneath the surface, circling the structure once to confirm no threats before resurfacing quietly on the opposite side with a questioning look.
The restroom roof spanned about ten square meters, covered in a thin layer of rainwater and bird droppings that emitted a faint ammonia odor.
The open view and relatively low water levels all around made this the perfect ambush spot.
"Wait a moment."
Han Ning wiped the water from his face and took off his backpack.
From inside, he pulled out a package sealed in multiple layers of plastic bags, carefully unwrapping it.
A pungent mix of rotting meat instantly filled the air.
Inside the bag were several chicken legs, long since decayed and blackened.
"Take this in your mouth." Han Ning held the foul-smelling chicken leg to Snowflake's snout.
"Gurgle gurgle..."
Snowflake deftly clamped onto the bone part of the chicken leg.
Putrid juices dripped from the corners of its mouth, spreading a small oily stain across the murky water.
"Good, now dive down and search the park for other Crocodile Lizards," Han Ning commanded again. "Then lure them over here."
"Hiss!"
Snowflake responded indistinctly, still gripping the chicken leg, before suddenly plunging its head down and disappearing completely into the turbid water.
Han Ning pressed himself as flat as possible against the rooftop of the public restroom, focusing part of his attention on Snowflake.
Snowflake began exploring the area around the restroom.
Time ticked by.
Raindrops drummed monotonously against the black raincoat with a steady patter.
Han Ning remained motionless, lying at the edge of the roof, his right palm pressed against the tiles.
Suddenly.
A strong sense of alarm came from Snowflake.
In his perception, two relatively large dark shadows, like sharks drawn to blood, were rapidly approaching Snowflake's position from the murky waters nearby.
"They're coming!" Han Ning tensed and immediately directed Snowflake, "Quick, return! Lure them to the base of the restroom wall."
"Hiss..."
Without hesitation, Snowflake sped back toward the restroom, still gripping the rotten chicken leg.
At this point, it was still a straight-line distance of three to four hundred meters from the restroom. The two Crocodile Lizards were larger and slightly faster swimmers.
The distance between them closed rapidly.
Thirty meters... twenty meters... ten meters.
Just as the two Crocodile Lizards were about to reach Snowflake, their ferocious jaws opening wide to snatch the rotting meat—
Snowflake successfully returned to within five meters of the restroom.
"Now, drop it and dive," Han Ning's command came through.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A full twelve Vines, each as thick as three fingers, shot out from above the restroom.
Six of them lashed out like precise lassos, coiling around the limbs and long tail of the leading Crocodile Lizard.
The other six wrapped around the neck and midsection of the second one.
"Roar!"
The leading Crocodile Lizard was caught off guard, its limbs and tail instantly bound tightly by the tough Vines.
Its momentum was abruptly halted, and it let out a furious, frightened roar, thrashing violently to break free.
Its pale gray skin grated harshly against the thorny Vines, producing a creaking sound as water splashed everywhere.
[Vine Manipulation proficiency +2. Current: 184/200]
"ROAR!!"
The second Crocodile Lizard reacted slightly faster. As the Vines closed in, it jerked its head and snapped at them.
Crack! Crack!
Two Vines were severed instantly!
But the remaining four coiled stubbornly around its neck and one hind leg, trapping it in place.
It could only frantically claw at the Vines with its free forelimbs and whip its tail against the water.
"Snowflake, attack the one in the back."
The one in the back was slightly smaller—eliminate the weaker one first.
"Growl!"
Almost the instant the vines ensnared their target, Snowflake obeyed the command and released the rotting flesh from its mouth, springing upward like a coiled spring.
Splash!
Water erupted as Snowflake's head broke the surface.
Its yellow vertical pupils locked onto the second Crocodile Lizard thrashing wildly in panic.
"Roar!" Snowflake emitted a deep growl entirely unlike those of the other two lizards.
Its powerful hind legs kicked violently against the slippery public restroom wall.
Propelled by this force, its entire body launched through the air toward the temporarily restrained lizard behind it.
Jaws gaping wide, it aimed for the relatively vulnerable side of the Crocodile Lizard's neck.
Squelch!
A sickening sound of flesh-piercing fangs followed.
Snowflake's razor-sharp teeth sank deep into the lizard's neck.
"Gurgle!!"
Instantly, dark red beast blood sprayed violently, staining the murky water crimson