Bai Xiaomantou led the way into the woods, Wang Ermaizi trudging behind her with a face full of regret.
There was no road, only wild weeds and twisted vines.
Each step was a fight.
Now she understood why Lin Bei hadn't gone in himself — he'd sent them to draw the monster out.
Smart. Infuriatingly smart.
The stench grew stronger. Flattened weeds, large footprints stamped into the dirt.
Something had been here.
"But… where is it?" she muttered.
Then—drip.
A warm, sticky liquid fell on her cheek. It smelled awful.
She froze, touched it.
Saliva. And blood.
Her heart clenched. "Wait—no!"
She looked up—and there it was.
A hulking black-haired monster hung upside down from a tree like a gorilla, two scarlet eyes glaring through the dark.
"Roar!"
Its cry was guttural, sharp, and wet with spit.
"Oh my god! The black-haired monster!"
It jumped down with a crash, dirt flying.
Bai Qiong stumbled back, heartbeat loud in her ears.
The monster pounced—
and Wang Hu rammed into it, knocking it aside in a burst of dirt.
With a roll and a grunt, Wang Hu shouted, "Go! I'll hold it off!"
"Thanks, but I'm faster!"
Bai Qiong's back lit up — translucent wings unfurled, glowing like a butterfly's. One flap and she was gone, leaving Wang Hu to stare after her.
"Unbelievable—total betrayal!" he shouted, just before the monster's eyes fixed on him again.
"Roar!"
It lunged, saliva flying.
"Ahhh! The wind's strong! I'm leaving first!" Wang Hu yelled, running for his life.
Outside the woods, Lin Bei stood with hands on his hips, listening to the roars echo closer and closer.
Chen Xuan's face tightened.
The trees were shaking now.
Bai Qiong burst out first, panting. "It's here!"
Lin Bei blinked. "Little White Bun can fly now? Nice."
Then came Wang Hu—missing one shoe, screaming.
And behind him, the black-haired monster crashed down onto the path, cracking the ground beneath it.
"Whoa... so fierce." Lin Bei half-squinted, more curious than afraid.
He muttered, "If this were an anime, this would be the part where I say—'Heh, looks like it's finally my turn to shine.'"
Chen Xuan, trembling slightly, tightened his grip on Pikachu.
"Everyone, get ready! Let me handle this!"
He wound up his arm like a pitcher.
"Go! Pikachu!"
The plush doll soared through the air—
and smacked the monster right in the face.
Then plop — rolled onto the ground.
Everyone stared.
"Uh???"
"What the hell???" Chen Xuan's voice cracked.
The black-haired monster blinked, saliva drooling as if to say, Are you serious right now?
Lin Bei sighed, crossing his arms.
"You really thought that would work? You're more naïve than a third-rate protagonist."
"Didn't you say it's the strongest war beast?!"
"Yeah, emotionally. Not physically, idiot!"
The others looked like their souls had left their bodies.
"Alright, step aside," Lin Bei said calmly, rolling up his sleeves. "Time to teach this monkey what enlightenment looks like."
He reached into his trouser leg — and pulled out a toy golden hoop.
"...You've got to be kidding me," Wang Hu muttered.
"Wrong," Lin Bei said seriously, "I never kid when I'm cool."
Before anyone could stop him, he dashed forward.
The monster growled, raising its huge hand to swat him.
Lin Bei smirked.
"Come then—let's see whose script gets rewritten today."
The toy staff glowed gold, swelling and stretching until it became a massive, shining pillar.
BOOM!
Lin Bei's swing hit the monster square on the shoulder.
It screamed, half its body buried in the dirt.
"Woooo—!"
Lin Bei spun the staff effortlessly and slammed it again.
"Beat you to death, you b*****d!"
CRACK!
The monster's skull burst open like a watermelon.
Silence filled the air.
The black-haired beast that had devoured seven people… was gone, just like that.
Lin Bei stood in the settling dust, twirling the staff once more.
"Next time," he muttered with mock gravity,
"remember—believe in your own power, not in the Pikachu that believes in you."