The Hundred Beast King Long-Legged Crocodile quickly realized that Jian Long had escaped to another tree.
Its huge body turned abruptly, claws digging into the soil as it rushed toward the new tree. Without hesitation, it raised its thick tail and lashed out again.
A sharp metallic sound echoed.
But this time, the result was different.
The tree Jian Long had jumped onto was far thicker than the previous one. Its trunk was old and sturdy, its bark dark and rough from decades of growth. The metallic spear that shot from the Gu worm struck the trunk with force, biting deep into the wood—but the tree did not fall.
Not immediately.
The trunk trembled violently, leaves shaking and falling like green rain. But it remained standing.
High above, Jian Long clung tightly to a branch, his heart pounding in his chest.
The tree would not last long.
But it had bought him something precious.
Time.
A few precious seconds to think.
His grey eyes quickly moved downward, observing the crocodile carefully.
"That Gu worm…"
His mind worked rapidly.
"It should be Rank 1. It launches a powerful metallic spear… strong enough to cut down trees."
The crocodile below roared angrily, its body twisting as the spear withdrew from the trunk before preparing to strike again.
Jian Long narrowed his eyes.
"But it didn't use that attack directly against me."
A thought suddenly formed in his mind.
"Why?"
He watched the beast carefully.
The creature's eyes were positioned on the sides of its head.
Slowly, realization dawned.
"Because it can't aim properly."
His breathing steadied slightly.
"With its eyes placed like that, it can't accurately target small moving objects. That's why it uses the Gu to strike large, stationary targets instead."
A faint spark of relief appeared in his mind.
"Good… that means I don't have to worry about being killed from a distance."
But that relief lasted only a moment.
Below him, the Hundred Beast King Long-Legged Crocodile began attacking the tree again.
Another metallic spear shot out.
CRACK!
The trunk shook violently.
Splinters of wood burst outward as the spear carved deeply into the bark.
The crocodile was relentless.
It continued launching spear after spear, the attacks striking the trunk with terrifying force.
The thick tree trembled more and more with each hit.
Jian Long could clearly see the damage spreading along the bark.
At this rate…
The tree would fall in less than a minute.
Cold sweat formed along his back.
He quickly looked around.
Left.
Right.
Above.
Below.
His sharp gaze scanned the surrounding forest desperately, searching for anything—anything—that might help him survive.
Then—
He noticed something.
A strange cluster of movement among the branches of a distant tree.
Dozens…
No.
Hundreds of small birds gathered around its crown.
Jian Long focused his eyes.
His expression changed instantly.
Those were not ordinary birds.
Their bodies were small—barely the size of a human palm—but their wings were long and thin, shaped like blades.
A chill ran down his spine.
"Sword Birds…"
The moment he recognized them, a sudden excitement surged through him.
He couldn't help shouting under his breath.
"I've survived!"
Without hesitation, Jian Long sprang into motion.
His body moved quickly across the branches as he began jumping from one tree to another, heading straight toward the tree where the birds nested.
Behind him—
The crocodile noticed immediately.
The Hundred Beast King Long-Legged Crocodile let out a furious roar and began chasing him from the forest floor.
Its long limbs allowed it to run with frightening speed, crashing through bushes and small trees as it pursued him relentlessly.
Above the forest, Jian Long continued leaping between branches.
His hunter's training showed clearly now.
His body was light and agile, his movements practiced from years of climbing trees in the mountains.
But even so—
The beast below was terrifyingly fast.
The distance between them did not widen.
Soon…
Jian Long finally reached the tree.
The tree was enormous.
Its thick trunk rose high into the air, its crown spreading wide like an umbrella above the forest.
Dozens of nests were built across its branches.
The Sword Birds lived in large colonies.
Each bird was tiny, no larger than a human palm, but their bodies were extremely sturdy. Their wings were thin, sharp, and metallic in sheen—like miniature swords slicing through the air.
Normally, these birds were peaceful creatures.
As long as their nests were not threatened, they ignored other animals.
But the moment their colony was disturbed…
They would attack with terrifying ferocity.
Thousands of birds.
Each one a flying blade.
Few creatures in the forest dared to provoke them.
Jian Long climbed onto a thick branch near the trunk and sat down quietly.
His breathing slowed.
His grey eyes turned toward the forest behind him.
Waiting.
For the Hundred Beast King Long-Legged Crocodile to arrive.
The Long-Legged Crocodile, the Hundred Beast King, charged through the undergrowth.
Its movement was heavy, yet frighteningly fast. Its long legs struck the ground with force, sending dirt and dry leaves flying in every direction.
It stopped at the base of the tree.
It raised its head.
Only one eye remained on the side of its head, and it was fixed on the boy sitting among the branches.
It released an angry roar.
Pain still gnawed at its injured eye, the crude wooden spear still partially lodged inside it. Thick black blood slowly flowed down the side of its harsh face.
But it did not retreat.
Its tail moved slowly. Then the metal spear shot out.
Shooook!
It pierced the air like a silver flash.
It struck the tree trunk with tremendous force, shaking it violently.
Bark scattered, and leaves fell like rain, provoking the anger of the sword birds.
The forest froze for a brief moment.
Then—
A sharp cry cut through the silence.
A small bird darted out from the branches.
Then another.
Then ten.
Then a hundred.
And suddenly—
The sky exploded.
Sword birds burst from the branches like a moving black cloud. Their small bodies glimmered under the sunlight, and their thin sharp wings reflected the light like metallic blades.
The crocodile let out a furious roar.
But it was too late.
The swarm descended upon it.
Shhhhhhh!
The sound of sharp wings cutting through the air echoed.
The birds collided with the crocodile's body from every direction.
Some struck its head.
Some slashed its neck.
But many rushed toward its back and sides.
Their sharp wings were like small swords.
They left dozens of deep wounds.
Blood splattered.
The massive beast began to thrash violently, its enormous tail smashing against the ground as it tried to drive the swarm away.
But the birds were many.
Too many.
Every time it drove some away… more came.
After only a few moments, its body was covered in wounds.
The crocodile roared in rage and pain.
Then—
It suddenly turned.
It began to run.
Trying to escape through the forest.
Above, Jian Long's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I cannot allow it to escape."
The long-legged crocodiles were stubborn creatures that did not easily abandon their prey. If he let it escape now, it would track him down later. And then he might not be lucky again.
Therefore—
Jian Long did not hesitate.
He jumped from the branch.
He landed lightly on the ground.
Then he ran.
His steps were quick and light as he headed toward a nearby rocky slope. The ground there gradually rose until it reached a short rocky ledge.
He stopped at the top.
Rocks were scattered beneath his feet.
He bent down quickly.
He lifted the largest stone he could carry.
It was heavy.
But fear gave him extra strength.
He looked toward the crocodile.
The beast was still running… the swarm of birds chasing it, tearing at its body with repeated strikes.
Jian Long clenched his teeth.
Then—
He threw the stone.
The stone spun through the air.
Boom!
It struck the crocodile's back.
It had no real effect.
But—
The beast immediately turned.
It saw the boy.
Its ferocious eye burned with rage.
Its prey was still here.
It released a furious roar.
Then it charged straight toward him.
Above, Jian Long did not move.
Instead, he bent down again.
He lifted an even larger stone.
It was extremely heavy.
But this time, he did not throw it.
He held it in his arms and waited.
The crocodile approached rapidly.
Each step shook the ground.
It opened its wide mouth.
Rows of sharp teeth appeared like a line of daggers.
The moment it lunged forward—
Jian Long moved.
He raised the stone with all his strength.
Then—
He dropped it directly into the beast's mouth.
The stone slammed against its teeth.
And drove deep into its throat.
The crocodile froze for a moment.
Its instinct forced it to close its mouth.
But the stone was too large.
Its mouth could not fully close.
It lost its balance.
The ground beneath its feet was sloped.
It stepped back.
Then another step.
Then—
Its legs slipped.
It lost its footing.
Its massive body rolled backward.
Boom!
It fell down the slope.
It struck the ground on its back.
The earth trembled beneath its body.
Its soft white belly was exposed.
The weakest point of its armored body.
In the sky—
The swarm instantly changed direction.
The sword birds had noticed it.
Now the crocodile was no longer running.
It could no longer resist well.
And its belly was exposed.
The birds descended.
Thousands of sharp wings fell like a storm of blades.
Shhhhhhhhh!
The wings pierced the soft flesh.
Skin tore apart.
Blood burst out.
Its intestines began to spill open under the relentless strikes.
The beast writhed violently.
It roared.
It tried to turn over.
But its body was already heavy with wounds.
And the birds did not stop.
Strike after strike.
Slash after slash.
Until—
Its body stopped.
The roar faded.
Its movements slowly stilled.
Then silence filled the forest.