Chapter 705 - 27: Tigers Relying on Human Power
Blood saturated the soil.
And the heavy breathing of the Fine-toothed Giant Bear had yet to cease.
The pain had nearly deprived it of its ability to move, but the inherent tenacity of a wild creature’s life force drove it to struggle, attempting to rise and move forward.
Its abdomen, pierced by a spear, was pressed against the ground, and with every step taken, the spear tip left a shallow mark on the earth.
At this moment, the bear couldn’t discern whether the pain in its pawless forearm was greater than the agony from its attacked abdomen; all it knew was that it needed to leave this place.
...
The axe handle was firmly gripped by Chen Zhou’s large hand. He weighed the Hand Axe calmly as he followed the Fine-toothed Giant Bear.
The scent of blood grew stronger with the loss of blood.
The Giant Hyenas gazed from afar at this scene——
Tonight, they hadn’t caught anything, and most members of the pack were stomachs empty.
A particularly large female Giant Hyena was eager to move, stepping away from the others and taking a step toward the gravely injured bear.
Ho!
The Giant Hyena Queen warned it with a raspy call.
The female Giant Hyena looked back, eyes lacking much reverence——
The Queen was old, and many of her decisions no longer met its expectations. It believed it should be the one leading the pack to glory.
There was much food on the grassland now, and if they were just a bit more aggressive, they could acquire several times more food than before, greatly enhancing the pack’s strength.
As if it didn’t hear the Giant Hyena Queen’s warning, the female hyena only glanced back before continuing forward.
It hoped to share in the bounty from the two humans and enjoy this huge prey.
...
Howl!
Chen Zhou was fully aware of the Giant Hyenas’ movements, but he paid no mind——
Even after dealing with the Fine-toothed Giant Bear, he still had plenty of strength to spare. Even without the Hand Axe in his hand, two or three Giant Hyenas were no match for him.
What surprised him was that before he could react, three young Serrated Tiger Cubs that had been hiding nearby ran up.
Next to the giant body of the bear, they appeared like tiny wriggling insects on the ground, but that did not deter their courage, or perhaps, it was the kind of confidence born from witnessing Chen Zhou single-handedly bringing down the bear that made them bold.
With a slightly juvenile roar, Tiger First charged to the bear’s side, facing the Giant Hyena pack, and boldly asserted that this was their spoils.
Following their brother, the other two young Serrated Tigers puffed out their chests, lifted their heads, and roared continuously.
Their demeanor was as if they were already adult Serrated Tigers capable of hunting Giant Hyenas.
...
What is intolerable for the hyenas is intolerable indeed; if the female hyena had shown some respect to the Queen just now, restraining its greed.
After being provoked by the three runts, its greed and anger became uncontrollable.
Ignoring the other Giant Hyenas’ persuasion, the large female hyena left the pack alone, moving toward the distant Fine-toothed Giant Bear, baring its mouth.
...
"Idiot!"
If the Giant Hyena Queen were smart enough, she would certainly think this about the female Giant Hyena.
A leader among pack animals is often not determined by size or strength, but by wisdom.
Whoever better commands, who better balances the relationships among pack members, and who fairly distributes the spoils wins all members’ respect.
And a brute would only lead the pack to destruction.
Even just after being provoked, with the dignity of leadership trampled upon, the Giant Hyena Queen was still thinking about the pack.
She barked continuously to signal the others to stop this thoughtless creature.
Yet, the enraged female hyena was ungrateful——
Distant cries of the young Serrated Tigers came one after another, each shout compelling her.
To ward off the bothersome peers, she even bared her teeth, intimidating smaller male Giant Hyenas.
Seeing that this mad one was insisting on her ways, the Queen finally refrained from advising.
She called back the other pack members, watching the departing female hyena with human-like helplessness and reluctance in her eyes——
The Giant Hyena Queen was not only the pack leader but also the mother of most members.
This rebellious Giant Hyena was her offspring. If it displayed enough brilliance and could triumph in direct conflict, she was willing to relinquish her position.
Being a leader was glorious, yet tiring. As her age advanced, she felt the decline in power and thus hoped for an outstanding member to succeed her.
For now, however, she might remain in this position for a few more years.
...
Although Giant Hyenas were smart, compared to the Fine-toothed Giant Bear, they were harder to lose control over due to anger and thus losing reason.
Even after provocation by the young Serrated Tigers, the lone female did not rush or charge over to launch an attack.
Because that man was still standing by the bear.
The scent of bear blood lingered, and no one would forget how this giant beast fell just now.
Cautiously advancing, nearly walking in a curve, the female hyena searched for a chance——
Influenced by the young Serrated Tigers, her goal had been lowered significantly.
There was no way she could claim the bear alone, but if luck were on her side, she might nab a Serrated Tiger Cub, which was a rare delicacy.
...
After several attempts, adrenaline was no longer enough to support its more than a ton weight. The Fine-toothed Giant Bear hopelessly sprawled on the ground, watching as that small yet formidable creature walked up to it.