Chapter 281: Chapter 13: Ambush
Su Xiao stood atop a pile of rubble, sensing. Though these giant alligators were unconscious, they seemed to have some kind of perception-blocking ability, making it difficult for him to pinpoint their location.
Crocodiles are hunters of the swamp by nature, and their stealth abilities run deep in their blood.
After sensing for a while on the pile of stones, Su Xiao could no longer detect any signs of life.
"It seems..."
Su Xiao suddenly felt the rubble beneath his feet shift, as though a colossal creature was surging out from within.
Crash!
The rubble exploded upwards, and a giant alligator, ten meters long and two meters tall, burst forth from the heap—it was the largest one Su Xiao had seen earlier.
Su Xiao was lifted by the giant alligator, his body flying through the air. At this moment, he was very surprised how this alligator had eluded his perception.
Thinking about it now was pointless, as there are many miraculous abilities. What mattered was how to confront the enemy.
But compared to confronting the enemy, escaping the alligator’s jaws was more urgent for Su Xiao.
He was mid-air with nothing to leverage against. The leader-level giant alligator had already leapt up, its mouth gaping open like a pair of giant scissors, jagged teeth sharp as daggers.
In mid-air, Su Xiao already judged that he absolutely could not get bitten, or he’d be doomed.
A putrid stench assaulted his nose as the leader alligator’s blood-red maw lunged toward him—Su Xiao was in critical danger.
A hook lock ejected from the red protective arm, embedding deeply into the nearby rock wall. Su Xiao retracted the Boundary Line, and his body was pulled aside.
At that very moment, the giant alligator’s maw snapped shut.
BANG!
It was like the sound of two wooden planks slamming together. The alligator bit nothing but air, and Su Xiao broke into a cold sweat.
If that bite had connected, never mind the number of bones it would break, the subsequent attacks would be even more terrifying.
A pair of beastly eyes glared at Su Xiao, brownish-yellow pupils with black slits, both cold and fierce.
The giant alligator was extensively burned, with a piece of its thick leather armor on its back blown off, exposing the raw red muscle beneath.
Su Xiao’s left hand gripped the Boundary Line tightly as he crouched on the rock wall, eyes fixed on the giant alligator.
From the alligator’s attack to now was less than five seconds; Su Xiao had brushed with death, a second slower and he would be gone.
Only now did Bubute Ni snap out of it, baring its teeth as it charged at the alligator silently, without a threatening growl.
A truly vicious dog that bites an enemy doesn’t bark; those noisy dogs are all bark and no bite.
"Go back. Wait outside the valley."
Though Bubute Ni ran fast and had decent attributes, its skills condemned it to weak combat strength.
Immediately turning tail, Bubute Ni ran out of the valley, hiding in a pile of stones, ensuring Su Xiao remained within the ’Ice and Snow Goddess’ Aura’ range.
Su Xiao was seven meters above the ground, the giant alligator stared at him intently.
There were two choices: kill this giant alligator or flee.
Killing this leader-level giant alligator was no small feat; it surely was a wilderness boss, likely with more than three skills.
If he fled... Su Xiao immediately dismissed that notion.
He planned to set the world coordinates at the alligator’s lair. If the alligator suddenly returned when the Kara Aliens were besieging the Contractors...
Imagining such an outcome, Su Xiao began scrutinizing the giant alligator.
This alligator was thick-skinned with plenty of stamina; he had to be prepared for a protracted battle.
Scanning the surroundings, this narrow corridor was only three meters wide, making it difficult to swing the blade.
He decided to leave this place first, knowing the alligator would pursue him relentlessly.
Su Xiao kicked off the rock wall, leapt into the distance, and upon landing sprinted toward the exit of the corridor.
Bang, bang...
The sound of collisions echoed from behind. Without turning back, Su Xiao could guess it was the sound of the alligator’s long tail thrashing the rock wall as it ran.
The corridor was short, and within seconds, Su Xiao burst out into the open, heading into a basin.
Dashing to the center, Su Xiao quickly glanced around—the basin was surrounded by a ring of low mountains, and in the middle was a flat area.
Standing on the flat ground, Su Xiao chose this battleground to prevent unexpected developments.
There were many mutated creatures in the wasteland, and if the sound of battle attracted others, it would be disastrous.
As Su Xiao reached the clearing, the giant alligator followed, its slit pupils showing no hatred, only cold detachment and murderous intent.
To kill and eat Su Xiao was its sole instinct, typical of cold-blooded animals devoid of emotion.
Holding Dragon Slash, Blue Steel Shadow already activated, Su Xiao stood facing the giant alligator.
"Roar!"
The giant alligator’s blood-red maw opened wide, emitting a roar reminiscent of a dinosaur’s cry.
Su Xiao sidestepped, slowly circling the giant alligator, knowing it was difficult for such a flat and elongated creature to turn.
Su Xiao’s pace quickened, spinning the alligator dizzily. Finally, after five circles, it grew impatient—muscles bulging on its stout legs, it pushed off the ground with a whoosh, charging Su Xiao.
Its massive shadow bore down—the alligator’s speed in normal times wasn’t fast, but its pouncing was lightning quick.
As the alligator pounced, Su Xiao ducked low, narrowly sidestepping.
A rancid stench filled his nose as the alligator’s bite missed, brushing past him.
Enduring blows was never Su Xiao’s style. As the alligator passed him, he gripped Dragon Slash with both hands, raising the blade high and delivering a descending slash.
The timing of the slash was impeccable. Though it didn’t strike the alligator’s body, it cleaved its tail.
This was Su Xiao’s full force slash—Dragon Slash’s sharpness and high-level sword technique specialization cleaved the alligator’s tail cleanly.
The alligator let out a roar, losing a third of its tail, leaving it bare.
Its eyes turned blood-red, charging at Su Xiao recklessly.
Su Xiao kicked the severed tail, sending it flying at the alligator. To his surprise, the alligator bit into the severed piece.
Bang.
Blood and shredded flesh flew as the tail was snapped into two, not so much bitten as smashed into pieces—a testament to the terrifying bite.
Seizing the chance as the alligator chomped on the tail, Su Xiao surged forward, silver chain trailing in his wake, slashing at the alligator’s back armor.
Squelch.
A stream of blood sprayed forth as Su Xiao’s knife cut deep into the giant alligator’s flesh. Even for a BOSS-level creature, Su Xiao’s slash was unstoppable.
Knife embedded in its flesh, the alligator shook frantically, letting out wailing cries.
Capitalizing on his advantage, Su Xiao leapt atop the alligator’s back, continuing his relentless slashing assault.
Squelch, squelch, squelch...
Blood splattered everywhere, covering Su Xiao.
In seconds, Su Xiao unleashed over a dozen slashes, each cutting to the bone.
The alligator, now with Su Xiao on its back, found itself momentarily dumbfounded, unable to reach him even with its tail.