As the first two sabertooths carried out their display, the third paused, casting a measured glance at Chen Xu, who remained motionless in the forest. Its massive body shivered, the taut arc of its back slowly relaxing, the threat of attack dissipating.
Apparently, to this third sabertooth, Chen Xu was merely an intriguing plaything—not worthy of diverting its attention from the greater tumult unfolding around them. With Chen Xu's aura no longer radiating outward, it abandoned its offensive posture.
Following suit, it rose upright, joining the other two in a long, reverberating roar, ignoring the vigilant human entirely.
The triumvirate's cries crescendoed, reaching a peak that carried far across the forest before abruptly cutting off as their mouths snapped shut. Two of the sabertooths, like streaks of yellow lightning, vanished into the dense undergrowth, disappearing in an instant.
The third cast a glance of apparent regret at Chen Xu, then with a casual sweep of its paw, it sent a trembling gazelle hurtling toward him, before turning and disappearing with the same velocity. Chen Xu saw only a flash of yellow light; when it cleared, the apex predator was gone, replaced by the dark shape of the incoming gazelle.
Reacting instantly, he engaged his qi, adopting the stance of the Taiji Pillar. With a smooth circular motion of his arms, he intercepted the charging creature, dissipating its momentum. With another whirl, he flung the gazelle safely to the four apes behind him, then turned his gaze toward the forest.
From the depths of the trees, a soft tiger-like roar drifted faintly, fading quickly into silence.
"Was that tiger constantly sensing my state? Was the gazelle merely a test?" Chen Xu's mind churned as he adjusted his inner qi, steadying his body that still trembled from the shock. His thoughts raced, attempting to divine the intentions behind the sabertooth's mysterious behavior.
"Damn it… it's not coming back for me, is it?" A shiver ran down his spine at the thought, and he hastily shook it off, forcing his attention back to the immediate scene.
The surrounding beasts began to stir. They, too, seemed aware that the sabertooths had departed—but why the urgency? Was it a signal, a prelude to some conflict between apex predators? Questions swirled, unanswered. The first roar had reminded him of wolves from films of his past life, yet the sheer distance and resonance of the sound defied his comprehension.
Could there exist a king wolf in this world, a creature of dominance rivaling the sabertooths themselves?
Moments later, five normal-sized sabertooths—roughly the size of young calves—emerged from the forest. Relief washed over Chen Xu, though their presence was still formidable. Each was a creature far beyond his current ability to confront, yet compared to the three tyrant sabertooths, these five seemed diminished, almost mundane in stature and aura.
The reactions of other animals confirmed his impression. While the arrival of the five did cause a stir, it lacked the terror and absolute authority of the previous trio. The battlefield gradually returned to a semblance of normalcy, as frightened herbivores abandoned the riverbank, fleeing the area that had so recently shaken their very souls.
Even carnivores, still reeling from their earlier encounters, were forced by the necessity of survival to rise again and hunt. The chaos of the scene increased with the addition of the five sabertooths, yet Chen Xu noticed with some surprise that the other tribe of apes remained perfectly still.
Impressive restraint… but restraint alone won't secure them any food. His eyes narrowed in understanding. These apes had clearly come prepared. They had likely observed the patterns of the tyrant sabertooths, timing their scavenging to maximize safety and opportunity.
Their calculation was clever: after the first sabertooths' display, any ensuing predation would be brief, and the forest would empty before sunset, leaving leftovers for the patient. But fate had brought Chen Xu into their midst—today, their hunt would not proceed unchallenged.
He gestured to one of the apes to guard the gazelle's corpse, preventing opportunistic predators from stealing it. Then, he retrieved five bamboo spears and stepped from the forest, leading the others toward the panicked herd of elk.
The sudden appearance of the ape party caused instant turmoil. Elk, already being pursued by predators, now found new obstacles in their path. The group split into two, pressed toward opposite sides of the forest.
Chen Xu's instincts flared. Spotting an elk veering three meters away, he coiled his arm, channeling his inner qi into the spear in a motion reminiscent of javelin practice in his previous life. The bamboo weapon surged with lethal energy, cutting through the air with a sharp whistle.
The elk froze mid-turn as a spout of blood erupted from its neck. The spear struck with precision, embedding completely and piercing the creature's flesh, felling it instantly.