Chapter 22: Decisive Action

All the rocks in Chen Wuling's cabin had been expended, and Tianxiao's machine gun ammunition was down to one-third.

"Combat training concluded."

Luo Fei's voice resonated through the comms system, reaching the two pilots in their Bluebird-class fighters.

"No need to waste resources on cannon practice anymore; save the budget. Resume your routine patrol duties."

The boss had spoken.

Chen Wuling and Tianxiao obeyed without hesitation, swiftly reforming their formation.

Chen Wuling couldn't suppress his amazement.

"I say, Tianxiao, are you sure you're not a graduate of the Military Academy? Did someone tamper with your records? I swear, for a moment, I felt like I was being hunted by an ace pilot. Look at this!"

He held up his arm to the screen, displaying goosebumps for emphasis.

Tianxiao rolled his eyes.

"You're exaggerating. I'm nowhere near as good as a real ace. Those guys can calculate trajectories and execute maneuvers that tear apart multiple targets in seconds. I'm just scraping the surface."

Chen Wuling wasn't having it.

"Oh, come on! Those aces are flying A-class fighters. They've got quad-mounted machine guns and computational chips leagues ahead of our Bluebirds. You're comparing apples to oranges. Where's your sense of proportion?"

Tianxiao had to admit he had a point. The Bluebird-class ships did limit his abilities. Still, he'd once witnessed the devastating skills of an A-class ace pilot during his time with Earth's Sky Force. Those pilots could unleash barrages of firepower that obliterated entire swarms of alien beasts within seconds.

But even ace pilots weren't invincible. One such pilot had fallen to an electromagnetic storm conjured by a stealthy advanced beast, a grim reminder of the battlefield's unpredictability.

"What's the matter?" Chen Wuling's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "With your talent, what's there to complain about? If I had half your skill, I'd be commanding a battleship by now. Mark my words, you're wasted as a security pilot for a subsidiary company."

Luo Fei interrupted their chatter.

"Alright, that's enough. Tianxiao's abilities stay confidential. Talent is a double-edged sword. If you don't keep a low profile, it can lead to trouble. End of discussion. Resume your patrol."

"Understood," Chen Wuling said, immediately clamming up.

Luo Fei addressed Tianxiao next.

"Wuling promised that if you passed the shooting test, he'd take you to hunt a Splitfang Wolf. We keep our word. Signs of Splitfang activity were detected in Zone B4. Head there and take care of it. Your optimal landing point is marked. Good luck. We'll save you a spot at the barbecue tonight."

"Thank you, Boss Luo." Tianxiao's voice carried a rare note of genuine excitement.

Hunting a Splitfang Wolf wasn't just about sport; the creature's pancreas was a valuable prize, crucial for his current objectives.

The Hunt Begins

The Bluebirds glided toward Zone B4, landing at a secluded downwind slope marked on their maps.

Tianxiao and Chen Wuling disembarked, fully armed. The arsenal aboard their ships was extensive: pistols, shotguns, assault rifles, and sniper rifles. Tianxiao carried an assault rifle in one hand, a shotgun in the other, and a Desert Eagle holstered at his thigh. Chen Wuling opted for a simpler loadout, taking only an assault rifle and his Desert Eagle.

They exchanged a glance and moved forward with practiced coordination.

The monitoring center fed them real-time updates on the wolf's movements, pinpointing its location with precision. The creature was about two kilometers away—and closing in on them.

They didn't need to chase; it was headed straight for them. All they needed was a suitable ambush spot.

Reaching a vantage point, Chen Wuling proposed, "Splitfang Wolves are hyper-alert with exceptional senses. Let's set up here and wait."

"Agreed," Tianxiao nodded, scanning the surroundings. He regretted not bringing a sniper rifle.

"This would've been perfect for a clean headshot," Chen Wuling remarked, echoing his thoughts.

Tianxiao silently dismissed the idea. At this range, a headshot was risky. The gunshot would alert the wolf, which might evade and escape. A safer plan was to wound it—a deep, bleeding injury would ensure the wolf couldn't hide or survive for long.

Some things were better left unsaid. For now, Chen Wuling was leading, and Tianxiao chose to follow his lead.

A Change in the Wind

As they waited, a faint breeze shifted direction, brushing against Tianxiao's face. His expression darkened.

"Not good."

They were now upwind. The wolf would catch their scent.

Chen Wuling hadn't noticed the change. According to the monitoring center, the wolf was less than 400 meters away. If it detected them, it would bolt.

Splitfang Wolves were terrifyingly fast; chasing one down was almost impossible. Letting it escape wasn't an option.

Without hesitation, Tianxiao grabbed a sharp rock and sliced a shallow wound on his leg.

"What the hell are you doing?" Chen Wuling's shock was palpable.

Before he could process it, the comms buzzed with alarm.

"The wolf is accelerating! It's coming straight at you! What the…? Is it suicidal?"

Tianxiao dropped the rock, raised his gun, and leaned out from behind their cover. His movements were precise and calm, his aim unwavering.

The wolf's silhouette emerged, leaping toward them with lethal intent. Its golden eyes locked on its prey.

Bang!

The first shot fired, the muzzle flash lighting up the dusk.

The wolf's pupils contracted as it realized too late it had been lured into a trap.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Each trigger pull sent a bullet screaming toward the beast. Shell casings clinked against the ground as Tianxiao maintained a steady rhythm.

The wolf's chest and abdomen were riddled with shots, and blood sprayed into the air. The final bullet pierced through its snarling mouth, silencing it forever.

The beast crumpled mid-leap, skidding lifelessly to the ground.

Chen Wuling finally peeked out from behind cover, equal parts exhilarated and astonished. Tianxiao's self-inflicted wound, his quick reactions, and the flawless execution of the ambush were starting to make sense.

The comms crackled.

"Wind direction changed? D*mn, that was close. If Tianxiao had hesitated, that wolf might've escaped."

Chen Wuling exhaled deeply, the realization settling in. Tianxiao's quick thinking and decisive action had turned the tide.

"Tianxiao…" he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "What kind of monster are you?"