The dawn of victory was already in sight, but Yan Luo had no intention of relaxing his vigilance.
This multi-legged tiger was a lethal-level demon; even a silent hunter lizard could continue to run wildly after having its intestines ripped open, so there was no reason the multi-legged tiger couldn’t do the same.
[Don’t relax your guard, be careful of the multi-legged tiger’s dying counterattack. 32% of hunters’ deaths occur due to demons’ dying counterattacks—this is even with detailed records.]
Yan Luo’s words were like a cold splash of water on the hunters of the seventh squad, quickly bringing them back to calmness despite feeling victorious.
Suddenly, under everyone’s astonished gaze, Yan Luo stopped his motorcycle and dismounted.
With a quick hand, he drew out a shotgun and issued a new order to the other hunters: "Now, the multi-legged tiger’s ability to act has been greatly reduced. Next, we’re going to charge like a pack of wolves, continuously attacking. I’ll be the main attacker, but you need to share some of the pressure, can you do that?"
Yan Luo, as an ordinary person, could be the main attacker; they only needed to share the pressure with him, how could they not manage?
The hunters roared in the squad’s channel.
"Then, let’s begin the operation!"
As soon as the words fell, Yan Luo shot out like an arrow from the string, his speed seemingly faster than Li Xinyue who possessed the [Breeze] engraving.
The multi-legged tiger had injured four legs, making it difficult to move freely. Now suppressed by rockets and vehicle-mounted machine guns, it couldn’t move at all.
The more it was suppressed, the angrier the multi-legged tiger became.
[Mortars and rockets, cease fire! Vehicle-mounted machine guns, fire until this round of ammunition is finished, then stop shooting!]
After all, they were hunters, not soldiers; they wouldn’t enter the Abyss with large amounts of ammunition.
Yan Luo knew that if rockets and mortars continued firing, the ammunition would be exhausted before killing the multi-legged tiger.
The same applied to vehicle-mounted machine guns.
Killing the multi-legged tiger wasn’t the endpoint of this Abyssal hunt; to return from Bone-Eroding Plain to Crimson No.2, the seventh squad needed to endure at least one or two more battles, so ammunition must be conserved.
Moreover, Yan Luo needed them to keep some spare ammunition as insurance.
As he spoke, Yan Luo had already rushed to the front of the multi-legged tiger.
With mortars and rockets stopping their fire, just two vehicle-mounted machine guns couldn’t suppress the multi-legged tiger.
Seeing Yan Luo approaching, the multi-legged tiger wanted to open its mouth but suddenly remembered being bombed by a grenade for biting Yan Luo earlier and kept its mouth shut tight.
The multi-legged tiger braced its limbs against the ground and struggled to leap up, attempting to crush Yan Luo with its massive body.
Yan Luo stood firm, raised his shotgun, and fired repeatedly at the advancing multi-legged tiger.
Bullet after bullet sprayed from the barrel, mostly deflected by the shielding, but some bullets still hit the multi-legged tiger’s body.
Even though the solitary slug did not pierce the skin of the multi-legged tiger, it got stuck in the muscle.
However, Yan Luo’s shooting wasn’t intended to kill the multi-legged tiger—
He quickly slung the shotgun behind him, drew out a long knife, and faced the heavily falling multi-legged tiger.
Taking a deep breath, the stored energy from the shotgun’s recoil suddenly pushed power into Yan Luo’s arms.
Yan Luo let out a roar, raising the knife with both hands and slashing forcefully.
Using the weight of the multi-legged tiger itself, the incredibly tough tiger skin was cut by the blade, with Yan Luo pressing all his power to strike at the multi-legged tiger’s rib cage.
The rib cage was more rigid than steel and even Yan Luo’s full power couldn’t crack it open.
However, the cartilage couldn’t withstand such pressure and split apart.
Yan Luo pushed against the rib cage, breaking into its chest cavity.
The hunters of the seventh squad didn’t know what movement Yan Luo made; they only knew that Yan Luo was an ordinary person, and even if wearing an exoskeleton, being crushed by a multi-legged tiger weighing at least twelve tons meant certain death.
Yan Luo had anticipated their reaction long ago. Just as the hunters of the seventh squad were burning with anxiety, his voice came through the squad’s channel.
[I’m fine. I’m now inside the multi-legged tiger’s chest cavity. I need you to divert its attention for me.]
Yan Luo’s voice sounded still calm, capable of soothing everyone’s restlessness.
As soon as they heard his voice, everyone felt as if they had found a backbone and instantly settled their minds.
Three hunters with [Strength] engravings who carried explosives rushed to the multi-legged tiger, took out grenades, and threw them at it.
Whether it was the breaking of cartilage or Yan Luo rushing into its chest cavity to attack internal organs, it caused the multi-legged tiger great pain.
The pain drove it to roll around wildly on the ground, its claws frantically clawing at its chest, trying to dig Yan Luo out.
The grenades landed on the multi-legged tiger, blowing its fur to shreds. The multi-legged tiger didn’t shift its focus, staying intent on tearing at its own chest.
Under its tearing, the fur already split open by a knife suddenly ruptured, and the internal organs losing support from the rib cage and cartilage spilled out.
Yet in that bloody mess, Yan Luo’s figure was nowhere to be seen.
Yan Luo stepped on the multi-legged tiger’s ribs and wielded a hatchet to hack away fiercely.
Severing arteries and veins, shredding all vital organs!
If one swing didn’t work, then two; if two weren’t enough, then three!
A large amount of blood gushed from the chest wound. The multi-legged tiger roared thunderously but was already beyond saving.
Power was rapidly draining from its body, escaping along with the blood.
The deflection shield vanished from the multi-legged tiger, machine gun bullets continually burst its body, and its fur was riddled with numerous holes.
Although it was a lethal-level demon, it was ultimately a mortal creature. Even able to withstand grenades and rockets, when weakened, even machine gun bullets could penetrate its muscles.
Soon, the two vehicle-mounted machine guns stopped firing.
Not because the ammunition ran out, but because the operators suddenly remembered Yan Luo was still in the multi-legged tiger.
Now that the machine gun bullets could penetrate its muscle, they might harm Yan Luo.
The hunters abandoned their ranged attacks, surging forward to use their melee weapons to slaughter the multi-legged tiger.
The multi-legged tiger lay on the ground, utterly powerless to resist, watching helplessly as it was dismembered.
Suddenly, the multi-legged tiger dispersed into a flurry of light dots, and Yan Luo’s figure reappeared in the hunters’ sights.
A snow-white tiger skeleton descended from above, crushing people under it.
Fortunately, the three hunters with [Strength] engravings could lift the tiger skeleton, otherwise, such an intact skeleton from head to tail would’ve caused significant injury to the hunters, possibly even fatalities.
Li Xinyue immediately cast a concerned glance at Yan Luo, puzzled to see Yan Luo’s metallic mask seemingly closing.
Had he opened his mask?
Li Xinyue thought it over and then brushed the question aside, running toward Yan Luo.
"Yan Luo, are you okay? Why use such risky tactics when we agreed on the wolf pack strategy?"
Hearing Li Xinyue’s slew of words, Yan Luo glanced at her and explained: "The multi-legged tiger came straight at me for a chop; it was asking for death. If I didn’t fulfill its wish, wouldn’t it show I’m too petty?"
The other hunters couldn’t help but laugh aloud upon hearing this.
"Didn’t expect you to appear cold on the outside but be so humorous inside."
"Yan Luo, why not join our Glazed Group’s seventh squad? We’ll elect you as captain."
"The seventh squad doesn’t have any more seasoned members; having Yan Luo as captain isn’t a bad idea."
Though they would be angry for the death of their captain and vice-captain, they wouldn’t let grief stay long in their hearts.
To become a hunter, one must learn to accept departure. A hunter who can’t adjust their mindset will ultimately die in the Abyss due to mentality issues.
"...That’s what they’re saying."
Li Xinyue looked hopefully at Yan Luo, bit her lip, and asked: "What do you think?"
Yan Luo, gazing at the tiger skeleton, shook his head, "I’ll pass. After a few months as a lone hunter, I find being alone more comfortable."
If he joined a team, what would others think of him wanting to consume demon blood?
Yan Luo had no plan to reveal his situation publicly for now, so joining a team or forming a group was not in his interests.
The adrenaline effect was gradually dissipating. Having just consumed several mouthfuls of the multi-legged tiger’s heart blood, Yan Luo again felt the onset of intoxication syndrome, took a deep breath, and turned to say: "You all should be leaving the Abyss, right? I’ll head out with you."