Chapter 110: The Plan Begins

"Awoo! Awooo!"

Near the small hillside, a tall, robust mutant wolf howled loudly toward a gigantic golden eagle perched in the distance. The eagle looked much like a super fighter jet, and the wolf, acting just like its domestic cousins, kept barking and howling, issuing an incredibly provocative challenge.

*Swish!*

The giant golden eagle’s eyes snapped open. Its gaze, sharp and cold as a predator’s, pierced through the air toward the small creature, silently demanding it to show some sense and get lost.

However, the creature didn't seem to get the message. Seeing the eagle look over, the wolf howled even more enthusiastically, clawing at the ground as if preparing to charge at any moment. It was pushing the eagle’s patience to the limit.

*Kree-ee!*

The giant golden eagle was furious. What was going on today? One after another, these insignificant little things were coming to provoke it. If it weren't for the fact that it had just hatched its chicks, suffered a decline in strength, and been ambushed by a rival—leaving it severely wounded and forced to take refuge in this small, remote place—it would have long ago slaughtered these pests. It had been peaceful for the last two days, but now these weaklings were causing trouble again. They were truly ignorant and tired of living. If it weren't for its restricted mobility, it would have wiped them all out and devoured them.

In an instant, a powerful aura of pressure surged toward the mutant wolf. The wolf stumbled back several steps, but once it regained its footing, it showed no sign of repentance. Like a rabid beast, it continued to roar wildly at the eagle.

The eagle was now in a dilemma. It glanced at its nest on the small hill, then back at the mutant wolf, which looked exactly like the previous mad creature. Finally, it closed its eyes, choosing to ignore the noise as if it heard nothing. Its high intelligence told it that the creature might get bored and leave on its own, allowing the eagle to settle the score once its wounds healed. Or, if the creature saw no reaction, it might let its guard down and approach, which would be even better—the eagle would get its revenge and a free dinner.

But what happened next exceeded its expectations. The robust, crazed mutant wolf acted just like its predecessor, barking and taunting incessantly without ever leaving or approaching. It simply kept up the provocations—sometimes challenging, sometimes mocking, sometimes howling as if in victory...

The range of emotional expression displayed by such a low-level creature made even this intelligent super-eagle feel a sense of chagrin. That such a weak, low-tier being could possess such high intelligence and complex emotions was truly disheartening.

However!

Now, its annoyance grew. Its eagle eyes turned bloodshot. Never had it suffered such humiliation! Even before the world changed, it had been an aerial overlord. Although it rarely ventured out because the two-legged humans were too powerful, keeping it largely unknown to the world, it had never faced such provocation anywhere. In the depths of the mountains, giant pythons, tigers, and black bears were no match for it; they trembled like mice before a cat. After mutation, its size had more than tripled, and it no longer feared the massive monsters of the land. More importantly, it wasn't just the increase in size, but the sudden, immense surge in physical strength following the world's transformation. Now, there was simply no one on this planet who could truly defeat it.

It was invincible!

And yet, it had been continuously provoked by a weakling for so long. With its dignity trampled, it could no longer hold back. In the world of beasts, where strength was the ultimate law, one had to keep their tail tucked if they lacked power. It was impossible for a creature that couldn't even withstand a single strike to dare provoke it like this, mocking it and stepping on its pride.

It could no longer endure it. Even with its high intelligence, it was blinded by the relentless goading. All that remained was a surge of burning rage. It would let its fury consume the creature; it would let all the small things in this forest know that it was not to be provoked.

*Kree!*

Spreading its wings, which spanned over twenty meters, the giant golden eagle launched its massive body into the air and flew toward the mutant wolf...

***

"Good! Finally, a reaction!"

Liang Jing immediately ordered the mutant wolf to flee quickly along a pre-selected route dense with trees. These tall, thick woods would effectively hinder the giant golden eagle's pursuit.

Beside him, Liang Jing let out a breath of relief. The plan was proceeding. This giant golden eagle was truly intelligent; it had taken over an hour of provocation for it to finally lose control of its rage and give chase.

Liang Jing smiled. No matter how high its intelligence was, without the complex thoughts of humans, it was still too simple and prone to mistakes. A beast was a beast, after all; its mind was not as cunning and complex as a human's.

He watched the giant golden eagle, which could only glide at a low altitude. With every beat of its wings, the massive, gaping wound on its chest and abdomen—which had barely stopped bleeding—began to seep blood again, a testament to the severity of its injuries.

*Boom!*

Two tree trunks as thick as a man's waist, blocking the eagle’s path, were snapped in half with a loud *crunch*, crashing to the ground with a thunderous roar. In return, the eagle’s body shuddered violently, and its wounds split open once more, blood gushing out.

*Kree!*

With a cry of pain, the golden eagle regained its composure. Seeing the mutant wolf running toward the densest part of the forest, it flapped its wings to rise above the canopy, soaring ahead of the wolf to swoop down and strike.

Liang Jing, watching from behind, marveled. *Good heavens, the more powerful the monster, the higher its intelligence. It managed to find a solution even through its rage.* But amazement aside, Liang Jing was not about to give up.

*Splat!*

Although the wolf was swift, it was far too weak compared to the eagle. Its body was instantly seized by the eagle's talons, as helpless as tofu, and it died instantly.

"Awoo! Awoo, awoo!"

Before the golden eagle could even revel in the satisfaction of venting its anger on the enemy, the same sound came from not far away—the same taunts and mockery as before. Its fury flared up again. *Do these bastards think I'm that easy to bully? It never ends!*

It took flight again, flapping its wings. Though its wounds continued to bleed, it no longer cared. It was determined not to stop until it slaughtered every one of these little creatures. Let’s see who would dare to twist the tiger's whiskers again...

This time, Liang Jing was smarter. He commanded the mutant wolf to move in irregular patterns to avoid the eagle. Whenever the eagle flew ahead, he would change the direction of travel, forcing the eagle to turn back. As the eagle caught up, the wolf would change direction again. The two were locked in a game of cat and mouse.

...

Seeing this, Liang Jing did not relax; instead, his expression grew even more solemn. After all, the opponent was not a fool; it was highly intelligent and immensely powerful. Even injured, it was far superior to the mutant wolves he was remotely controlling.

***

As expected!

Before long, the golden eagle found another opportunity and killed the mutant wolf with a single strike. They hadn't even covered half the distance yet. Liang Jing didn't even dare to go back to climb the nest for the fruit right now. Without his remote control, the remaining mutant wolves would likely be wiped out by the eagle in an instant, and then his joy would turn to sorrow.

He continued to follow, constantly steering the mutant wolves toward the defensive line of his private soldiers. Perhaps having learned from experience, the last mutant wolf lasted a bit longer, only being killed by the eagle when it was almost out of the forest.

*I guess I have to use it after all!*

Liang Jing shook his head and ordered the zombie "Brother Huang," who had been prepared earlier, to go out and provoke the eagle. "Brother Huang" struggled to move, picking up a rock to throw at the eagle while emitting a hoarse, guttural roar.

Attacked, the golden eagle shot a cold glare at "Brother Huang." Upon seeing a two-legged human in camouflage, its eyes turned bloodshot. Before the apocalypse, it had been wounded by humans, nearly losing its life, and had been forced into a corner where it barely had room to survive. This was a case of both old and new grudges!

Although the scent of this two-legged human was a bit strange, the eagle, already blinded by rage from the constant ambushes and provocations, didn't care. It surged toward "Brother Huang" in an instant.

Unfortunately for the eagle, Liang Jing had been prepared. After "Brother Huang" attacked, he immediately ran outward, creating a significant distance that would take the eagle time to close.

*Whoosh!*

With a span of over twenty meters, the golden eagle flapped its wings, kicking up dust and spraying blood as it flew out of the forest...

"What is that?"

"Don't shoot! The one in camouflage is one of our own!"