Chapter 409: Chapter 213: What a Coincidence, Everyone’s Here?

“Ooh!”

A deep avian cry, reminiscent of a bear’s roar, mixed with heavy footsteps that made the ground tremble slightly, and the crisp sounds of tree branches snapping and cracking, kept resounding from behind.

Cash tightly gripped his green-gray stone spear, sprinting furiously.

The tattoos of waves, gusts, and shells interlocking and intertwining on his bronze skin twisted and pulsed as his muscles contracted and expanded with high-speed movement.

The densely wooded environment of the Mist Forest was not his comfort zone.

The sturdy oak trees filling his vision were like the annoying giant seaweeds underwater, not only obstructing his view but also greatly slowing his movement speed.

No matter how rich his adventure experience, whether it’s the Dark Territory or the Icefield Volcano, he had been to all sorts of places.

But this middle-aged man, who grew up by the sea and held the profession of a Sea Tide Hunter, could only unleash his full strength at sea with its raging waves.

If at least there was a creek, he could use his professional skills to easily escape the bear’s chase.

But now, with trees everywhere, his occupational specialties couldn’t be utilized, and it was difficult to increase the distance from the opponent.

Cash knew in his heart that the reason the bear hadn’t caught up with him yet was only because his stamina was still sufficient.

Once he showed signs of fatigue and slowed down, the opponent’s claws, sharp enough to tear through steel, would mercilessly rip him apart.

Competing with such a beast in endurance is the most foolish action.

This can’t go on!

Cash clenched his teeth and squeezed the few remaining kerosene bombs, his last resort, tightly in his palm.

Suddenly exerting force under his feet, he leaped forward, hurling himself in a dive.

At the same time, his professional level of exceptional body control and core strength allowed him to twist mid-air, facing the bear.

Aim, throw fiercely!

“Boom!”

Fiery flames reflected in his eyes, and a warm shockwave rushed at him.

This time, he did not choose to throw the kerosene bomb directly at the bear.

The special environment of the Mist Forest, along with the opponent’s burly and strong body, made the effectiveness of fire damage very limited, unable to inflict significant harm.

Instead, it would only drive the bear into a frenzied rage, pursuing him madly through the flames, worsening the situation.

Thus, Cash aimed at the ground beneath the bear.

“Sizzle.”

Oils and dust sputtering out from the kerosene bomb scattered over the bushes and meadows.

The surging flames seemed to rise from the ground, blocking the demon behind.

Only just scorched, with searing phantom pains lingering on its body, the bear, driven by instinctual fear of flames from deep within its bloodline, along with remaining rationality, did not choose to charge through the flames directly.

Instead, it hesitated slightly at the boiling orange flames, pausing momentarily.

Seizing this hard-won opportunity.

Without a second glance, Cash landed, rolled to disperse the impact, and spun himself back upright.

He suddenly hurled the stone spear in his hand into the forest ahead.

Buzz—

The sharp sound of it tearing through the air stung his ears, and in an instant, the green-gray spear disappeared into the depths of the mist.

Running and carefully maintaining the connection with the stone spear in his mind.

Cash activated a battle skill.

“Boom!”

A massive suction manifested inexplicably on his chest, legs lifted off the ground, limbs swung backward due to sudden inertia, and his whole body surged like a magnet drawn to the distant spear.

The barrier of space was crossed in an instant.

Suddenly landing, his legs instinctively sprinted forward a few steps, and he smoothly picked up the spear embedded in the ground.

Ignoring the slight soreness in his core muscles, Cash once again launched the stone spear in his hands.

In this way, taking advantage of the bear being blocked by flames, thrice consecutively.

When Cash, panting heavily, stopped running, there was no longer the death-knell-like deep cry behind him.

“Damn, really damn…”

He mumbled, sweat dripping uncontrollably from his chin.

He looked up to survey the surroundings, determining direction.

After the crisis, his previously taut heart slightly relaxed, chaotic thoughts sprouting in his mind like weeds.

After being attacked by beastmen in Qingmai Village, the two confirmed that their tracked target was indeed the beastman in Xia Nan’s investigation mission.

Unexpectedly, upon entering the forest, they were bizarrely surrounded by numerous beasts, even attracting a demon as formidable as the bear.

This unusual situation led him to suspect that the beastman they pursued orchestrated it from the shadows, although the opponent had never previously displayed related abilities, if this beast indeed had the skill to manipulate beasts, such actions wouldn’t be surprising at all.

In such light, the recent beast riots on the outskirts of the Mist Forest were also caused by it.

Thoughts churning, a hint of shadow crossed Cash’s face.

Considering the worst case, perhaps even Xia Nan in the team, that “Gray Sword,” was in league with it.

It was, after all, too coincidental.

The target the two had been tracking for so long turned out to be the beastman in the other’s investigation mission.

Such a coincidence didn’t seem like something that should happen naturally.

And how could an ordinary newly advanced professional have the courage and strength to directly confront even an adult bear that way?

Disguising as a newcomer and agreeing to his invitation to join the Sea Thorn Squad must have been part of another scheme.