Chapter 40

In the Wasteland, there were few people, and fewer were Evolved Ones. As a result, the appearance of a mysterious powerhouse capable of killing an Iron-Winged Bird in a single blow piqued the attention of the three major forces.

No one dares to dismiss an Evolved Ones capable of reaching the top ten in the Hunting Ranking. The “Apocalypse Wanderer,” like the other two forces, does not dare.

……

South of the Western Mountain Range, on a specific snowy mountain, was the frontline of the Burning Fire Company.

The scent of gunpowder lingered in the air.

Right now, soldiers in a dark blue winter jacket were cleaning the battlefield after they had wiped out a group of Mutated Beasts.

In front of the battlefield, the top echelons of the Burning Fire Company gathered here, led by a pale man with a feminine appearance who was gazing at the distant mountain through a binocular inherited from the old era.

In the lens, a broken mountain peak looms.

“Pass the order. We will take a 15-minute break before proceeding forward.” The man lowered his binocular; his voice was hoarse. “Our progress is slower than the Gray Mountain Group. We must catch up to them.”

“Yes, Sir!”

The person in charge of the regiment underneath the man replied and left. Shortly, everyone saw a messenger dashing.

“Reporting, Sir. An unknown A-Class Evolved Ones has arrived in the Great Western Continent!”

“What?” Several directors were stunned. Evolved Ones’ danger class; this was a set of classifications made by the Apocalypse Wanderer. Presumably, they graded the “danger level” of an Evolved Ones according to their battle records.

The Burning Fire’s CEO grabbed the intelligence and examined it, his face constantly changing. The details on the intelligence were incomplete. It only mentioned that the three Hunters saw the mysterious powerhouse kill an Iron-Winged Bird in one blow using a long-ranged ability.

“Monitor him! And try to figure out his movements!” the man said, looking decisive.

An A-Class powerhouse, huh? While not a threat to the Company, it’s worth keeping an eye out. At least, we should avoid conflict at all costs if unnecessary—well, if an opportunity presents itself, it’s also not a bad idea to draw him over to our side.

……

“A-Class?”

North of the Western Mountain Range, in an old ruin, the Evolved Ones of the Gray Mountain Group were busy moving the undamaged weapons stored there.

They moved out a brand-new mortar of the heavy caliber and placed it on a modified truck made for snowy terrain.

The executive chairman of the Gray Mountain Group was a tall, gray-haired, middle-aged man. At this moment, he slowly took his eyes away from the intelligence and said to a director by his side.

“What are your thoughts?”

“The intelligence should be accurate, and I would suggest we observe the situation with caution. While an A-Class cannot influence the overall situation, we must prevent the Burning Fire from winning him over. I believe the Apocalypse Wanderer should have already sent their people to keep track of him; they cannot turn a blind eye to this. For now, we should wait for further news.”

“So be it,” said the middle-aged man, nodding. He glanced at the increasingly gloomy sky. “The weather has changed. We will camp here!”

Shortly, a cold wave rolled over the hills, and a snowstorm suddenly arrived!

……

The snowstorm came abruptly. Although Lin Tuo had noticed it in advance through the “Full FOV” and transferred it, some of it still hurt Lin Tuo.

On the lee side of the col, Lin Tuo and Hua Xi sat together while silently finishing the warm lunch. Afterward, they tossed their lunch box on the ground.

“The snowstorm has subsided,” said Lin Tuo, standing up and pulling up his windproof mask. “Let’s continue.”

“Okay.” Hua Xi also hurriedly picked up her rifle.

At this moment, they had penetrated deep into the mountain range and began to sweep clean the red areas marked on the “intelligence,” that is, some of the more dangerous beasts’ activity areas. Hence, they never met too many people in the surrounding area. Occasionally, though, they saw some other Hunters from a distance, but there was no communication with each other.

When they came out from the lee side and walked again on the hillside where the snowstorm had faded, Hua Xi suddenly frowned and looked around.

“I always feel like someone is watching us.”

“You’re right. Some people are following us from afar,” he said without looking back. “The people of the Apocalypse Wanderer.”

By switching his consciousness back to his main body, he could easily overlook the entire Great Western Continent, equivalent to using the “Full FOV.” Hence, he had already discovered them early.

“It’s them?” Hua Xi didn’t doubt Lin Tuo’s statement. She said thoughtfully, “What should we do then? Should I warn them?”

“No need.” Lin Tuo looked ahead and stared at a strange python hidden in the snow; his body vibrated as he entered a fighting state. “Just keep an eye on them for me.”

……

In the distance, on the edge of a jungle, several Hunters sent by the Apocalypse Wanderer’s headquarters were hiding there. Each one of them was holding a binocular. At this moment, one of them turned around and looked at the 'small figures” through the lens.

“They seem to have discovered us.”

As soon as the voice fell, the others gasped.

“He killed the Great Snow Python… that fast?”

They looked at each other, then one of them pointed to a notebook in his hand with a bitter smile. On it were Lin Tuo’s “battle records” that they observed and recorded, which contained the species he killed and the corresponding points.

“How long has it been? This page is going to be filled in soon. He hunted dangerous beasts while not bothering with the ordinary ones. He did kill them but never bothered to pick them. Just what are his true intentions?”

“I don’t really care what he thinks. Just when we bring back this record, how will the bosses of the headquarters react…”

The other one’s expression became strange. “I’m afraid his rating will be adjusted.”

After this brief conversation, one of them stood up and sent the battle record back to the headquarters, and the others followed suit.

……

As time went by, the sun sank, and the sky darkened.

At night, the danger increased exponentially; hence many Hunters returned before dark.

In the bar of Hunter’s Home, the crowd was usually lively. However, tonight, the atmosphere had become odd.

By the fire, when the Evolved Ones who had returned finished reading the latest intelligence, everyone’s expressions changed significantly.

“Gasp… what is this fierce guy’s origin? S-Class? How many years has it been since an S-Class appeared.”

“It’s ’em, huh? Met ’em during the day, one big, one small—two people. The tall one had rather… bizarre clothes, while the small one was carrying a rifle.”

“… I-I also met them, almost tried to attack them…”

S-Class Evolved Ones!

One can find a lot of A-Class in the Wasteland, but an S-Class? Very few of them. Even if they’re placed within the three major forces, their strength alone would easily put them at the very top.

“… I’ve heard he exceeded that, just, the highest grade is S-Class… so…”

“Did you guys not notice? Look at the Hunting Ranking! He had climbed to second place—851 POINTS! He’ll catch up to the Lone Wolf soon! And it only took him half a day!”

After being reminded, many people looked at the Hunting Ranking.

The ranking was updated with each issue of intelligence.

At this moment, while “Lone Wolf” was still in the first place by accumulating over time, it was already shaky—almost taken over by a red “question mark.”

“The way things are going, I’m afraid that by noon tomorrow, Lone Wolf will be squeezed into second place,” said someone with a complicated expression.

At the same time, from the corner of his eyes, he looked toward a Hunter in the bar’s corner, clad in leather armor, drinking alone.

In the odd atmosphere, the figure put down his glass and picked up his weapon, then without a word, silently pushed open the wooden door.

Amidst some people’s desire to talk to him, he resolutely stepped into the dark, snowy night.

Patter

Bits of the snowstorm blew into the room and fell into the fire, making a slight, crisp sound.

The air in the room became muddier.

……

That night, the Hunters stayed there until morning, the time when the sky and ground were lit and when the snowstorm had subsided.

They had just got up from the ground and corners, still amidst preparing themselves to, again, enter the mountain range.

Suddenly, the door of the “Hunter’s Home” was pushed open.

It was an Evolved Ones, one responsible for delivering intelligence. He glanced at everyone while looking indifferent, then said to the “receptionist.”

“Latest news. Lone Wolf is dead.”

……

The Wasteland Hunters made a wrong judgment after all. In fact, before noon, the strongest Hunter died and disappeared from the ranking because he fought with a fierce beast in a certain dangerous area.

Some say that Lone Wolf was on his way to find the mysterious man before a fierce beast killed him. Others say that he died of exhaustion after hunting high-level beasts overnight.

No one could say for sure, and the name was quickly forgotten.

Lin Tuo didn’t know that he had risen to second place. Even if he knew, he probably wouldn’t care.

His only understanding of the situation is…

“Why are the three forces gathering toward me?”

Somewhere deep in the mountain range.

Lin Tuo switched his consciousness back to his main body during his rest. He found that the “Burning Fire Company” in the south, the “Gray Mountain Group” in the north, and some Wasteland Hunters in the middle had all sent out their squads with tacit understanding toward his location.

Aggressively, a circle was forming faintly.

Initially, the three forces had agreed to divide the land and compete for the right of it. But suddenly, a powerful and mysterious man broke in—Lin Tuo, breaking the balance of power here. Now, as a result, the three forces had deemed him as their “common enemy.” Even with little communication, the three forces tacitly attacked Lin Tuo as they tried to obliterate this random variable.

None of them want more competitors for the Imperial Seal.

“Are they worried I’ll steal something from them? Is that why they are joining hands to kill me?”

Although not privy to the exact details, Lin Tuo could still guess what they are thinking.

“W-what to do? You can’t possibly beat so many armed people.”

Blood drained from Hua Xi’s face as she saw the enemies encircling them from left, right, and behind. Even the front was blocked by fierce beasts—a perfect encirclement.

No matter how strong Lin Tuo was, in the end, he was a human. Escaping with thousands of guns pointing at you was just impossible.

“No need to be afraid; if you can’t beat them, escape,” said Lin Tuo in a flat tone.

“Escape? How?” Hua Xi’s eyes widened.

Lin Tuo thought about it. “Well… come over and hug me tightly. I won’t be able to catch you in time if you fall.”

Hua Xi looked dazed as Lin Tuo pulled her over—not understanding anything. With her head buried in his chest, she wrapped her hands around his waist.

“Hold on tight. We’ll fly.”

Lin Tuo looked at the mountain range on both sides with a smile and whispered as a dense army emerged. At the same time, his eyes dimmed as he switched his consciousness back to his main body.

“Switch!”

……

Lishan Martial Hall, in the study.

Lin Tuo leaned over the Sandbox, his eyes squinting. He put his hand inside toward the mountain range and controlled his clone to jump onto the palm with Hua Xi.

“It’s indeed impossible to escape under normal circumstances, but this daddy can fly, ah.” Lin Tuo blew toward the mountain range and raised his palm.

……

Great Western Continent, at the top of the mountain range.

When the people of the Gray Mountain Group, Burning Fire Company, and Apocalypse Wanderer successfully trapped the two figures within the encirclement, before their faces could show joy, they saw a shocking scene.

Before their eyes, a snowstorm came suddenly, which obscured their vision.

In the snowstorm, someone noticed two blurry figures… flying?

After a few breaths, the snowstorm stopped.

On the vast expanse of whiteness, where was Lin Tuo?

The mountain range was quiet.

After a while, someone finally recovered.

“The target… the target… disappeared!!!”