Zhong Xiwang was held by the Slender Monster, which, with its long limbs and the tentacles on its back, moved through the forest as nimbly as a monkey, leaping and darting among the trees.
On the ground, the constant rustling sound was the movement of the Centipede Monster in pursuit.
Zhong Xiwang’s heart pounded wildly as she stared in terror at the scenery flashing past her eyes.
The few shots she had fired earlier should have hit at least one of them, but judging by their current state, it seemed to have had no effect at all.
They were only angrier because of the loud gunshots.
If she fired at the head of the Slender Monster holding her, she wondered if it would work, but that would also mean she would be caught by the Centipede Monster below.
If she didn’t fight back, she would be taken deep into the forest by the Slender Monster, making it even harder to escape later.
Zhong Xiwang was frantic and at a loss, her fear making it difficult to breathe.
She didn’t want to die; she wanted to live.
Originally, she had braved the unfamiliarity and dangers of this place just to earn a large sum of money for her parents.
But now, she was even despairingly thinking that if she died, it might be a question whether her parents would ever know.
Snapping back to reality, she realized that the pursuing Centipede Monster behind her had disappeared at some point.
The Slender Monster hadn’t let her go either, still carrying her swiftly through the forest.
Zhong Xiwang looked down at the gun tightly gripped in her hand and thought fiercely, once it put her down, she must find a way to blow this monster’s head off!
Then, Zhong Xiwang saw a large nest built from branches and other materials on the trunk of a thick tree ahead.
Still wondering what kind of bird’s nest this was, the Slender Monster had already brought her there.
Thrown into the rough, prickly nest, she realized this was the monster’s own nest.
“Don’t come any closer!” Zhong Xiwang quickly raised the small, silver pistol, her face filled with panic and vigilance as she stared at it.
It seemed to understand Zhong Xiwang’s words, or perhaps it feared the power of the pistol, as its tall, slender body sat opposite her without approaching.
Zhong Xiwang noticed it tilting its head slightly.
A faint, almost imperceptible gaze shifted from her face to her hand—to the gun.
She froze for a moment, trembling as she leaned back, putting distance between them while firmly aiming the pistol at the monster’s head.
But something poked her from beneath, and Zhong Xiwang quickly glanced down.
Horrified, she discovered that in this bird-like nest, among the various branches, there were also many bleached white bones intertwined.
Some were animal skulls, others were arm and leg bones.
Then, her gaze fixed on a human skull.
In the distance, the Centipede Monster, which had nearly lost its way, raised its head, its six single eyes glowing as it once again pinpointed the location and swiftly moved toward it.
Zhong Xiwang suddenly saw the skull of her own kind, its hollow eye sockets seeming to silently watch her.
A chill ran through her entire body, and she looked in panic at the Slender Monster, which was quietly creeping closer to her.
In her desperation, she fired the remaining bullets one after another in a frantic rush at its eerie head.
But this creature, whatever it was, had something incredibly hard on its head. The powerful bullets struck it and bounced off as if hitting an impenetrable surface.
Now, with the last of her bullets gone, Zhong Xiwang was truly panicked.
Her eyes widened, glistening tears welling up continuously in her sockets, making her eyes shimmer with moisture.
That dazzling wine-red hair contrasted sharply with her terrified, bloodless face, making her appear fragile and pitiful to the extreme.
Even close-range bullets had left it unscathed—Zhong Xiwang had no idea what else could possibly fight back.
The Slender Monster paid no attention to her tears, merely picking up the small silver pistol that had slipped from her hand and examining it curiously with its head.
It seemed it didn’t need eyes to see.
As it lowered its head to inspect the pistol, Zhong Xiwang stopped her weeping, her gaze darting around as she tried to find an opportunity to escape.
Then, her eyes widened in horror once more.
On a tree trunk behind the Slender Monster, the long Centipede Monster was slowly crawling along the bark.
Zhong Xiwang’s eyes shifted, and an idea suddenly formed in her mind.
Summoning her courage, she poked the Slender Monster—whose attention was still on the pistol—with a tree branch.
When the monster looked up at her, Zhong Xiwang suppressed her fear and pointed behind it, silently warning of the danger lurking there.
Sure enough, upon discovering the Centipede Monster attempting to sneak closer, the Slender Monster turned around, its abdomen emitting a roar of anger and warning.
From an angle Zhong Xiwang couldn’t see, its abdomen split open, revealing a terrifying, densely packed array of sharp teeth inside.
Seeing the Centipede Monster advance instead of retreating, the enraged Slender Monster leaped from between the trees, landing right where the Centipede Monster was. The Tentacles on its back swiftly wrapped around the creature, and the large mouth on its abdomen tore off several of the Centipede Monster’s limbs without hesitation.
Once they were locked in combat, Zhong Xiwang quickly slid down the tree trunk.
Ignoring the scrapes on her hands and feet from the rough bark, she ran in one direction without looking back.
Noticing her escape, the Slender Monster immediately tried to give chase, but its legs were entangled by the Centipede Monster’s body, and one of its hands was bitten. A thick, dark liquid immediately began to flow from the wound.
Its body, which had previously been impervious to bullets, was now pierced by the Centipede Monster’s bite.
It seemed its bite force was even more powerful and terrifying than a bullet’s impact.
Zhong Xiwang knew none of this.
At that moment, all she wanted was to escape this dangerous forest and find Captain Pike and the others.
Zhong Xiwang kept her eyes fixed ahead, running desperately.
Even when she tripped over vines and roots on the ground, she quickly scrambled back up—her desire to survive overpowering any pain.
In the dim, eerie forest, her figure shattered the silence. The red hair streaming behind her resembled a flickering flame, becoming the only bright spot in the gloom.
Finally, a glimmer of light appeared ahead.
Zhong Xiwang quickened her pace and emerged from the forest, greeted by an endless expanse of sea.
The absence of the familiar fishing boat made her heart sink.
But hearing the rustling sounds behind her, she gritted her teeth and plunged headlong into the icy seawater.
As she swam, she glanced back and saw the tall figure of the Slender Monster standing on the shore, watching her intently.
Its body bore numerous dark marks.
Zhong Xiwang didn’t look for long, because the Centipede Monster had already entered the water and was swimming toward her.
Panic flashed across her face, but as she turned back, she realized heaven hadn’t abandoned her yet!
Right ahead, she spotted several tall, black triangular fins.
With no other options, Zhong Xiwang could only try her luck and call out to the orcas.
“Help!”
After a hearty meal, the Great Orca was heading back with its companions when it suddenly heard the cries for help from a Finless Beast. Its keen eyesight allowed it to recognize immediately—it was that pretty little Finless Beast.
And behind her, something unfamiliar seemed to be chasing her.