Chapter 442 - 440

Chapter 442: Chapter 440

The lead *Crocodylus porosus* spoke with brute arrogance. "What female? We don’t know anything. Get out of our waters now! Or we’ll tear you to shreds and feed you to the fish!"

The other *Crocodylus porosus* let out threatening hisses, baring their bone-white fangs. Their massive tails slapped the surface of the sea, sending up enormous splashes.

They had no intention of talking, only of driving them away.

Yan Lie’s explosive temper flared instantly. "The *Crocodylus porosus* are notoriously arrogant and unreasonable. We should just fight them."

As he spoke, the High Rank Talent Power of an Orange Rank began to radiate from his body.

The other males had clearly lost their patience, just like Yan Lie.

Wanwan had been missing for too long. They were frantic with worry.

Seeing the killing intent radiating from the males before it, a vicious gleam flashed in the lead *Crocodylus porosus’s* eyes. It roared in fury, "You’re asking to die!"

With that, it swung its massive body and swept its tail viciously at Xin Feng, who was at the front. The attack was swift and deadly!

Zhu Xiu’s eyes turned cold and sinister. The instant the *Crocodylus porosus* attacked Xin Feng, his beast form shot behind it. His long Snake Tail coiled around the creature, and his sharp fangs struck like lightning, plunging into the gap between the scales beneath its armpit.

That was where a crocodilian’s defenses were weakest!

SQUELCH!

The inky black venom injected in an instant!

"ARGH!"

The *Crocodylus porosus* let out a bloodcurdling shriek as the wound rapidly blackened and began to rot.

It didn’t even have time to react before its life was extinguished.

Killing one of the *Crocodylus porosus* provoked the fury of the rest, and the battle exploded in an instant!

Jin Yi transformed into a giant Golden Lion, roaring as he pounced on another *Crocodylus porosus*, his sharp claws and teeth tearing through its tough scales.

Yan Lie and Xin Feng used their incredible speed to dart between several *Crocodylus porosus*, their sharp claws leaving gashes deep enough to show bone!

Zhu Xiu’s form was a blur, each appearance marked by the glint of black venom as he precisely struck the vital points of the *Crocodylus porosus*—their joints, their eyes.

Even the *Crocodylus porosus* could not withstand the King Cobra’s deadly venom. They quickly lost their fighting ability, thrashing in agony in the seawater.

However, the Crocodylus porosus Clan had thick hides and tenacious vitality, and they also had superior numbers.

The reef became a bloody battlefield.

Furious roars, agonizing screams, the clash of energy, and the crash of waves all merged into one!

"ROAR!" A deafening, rage-filled roar echoed from the direction of the bay.

The sound carried a terrifying pressure that made the very surface of the sea tremble.

An enormous black shadow, more than three times the size of a normal *Crocodylus porosus*, was charging toward the battlefield, churning up monstrous waves.

"You killed my kin... you will all die!" The Crocodylus porosus King’s furious will slammed into the minds of Zhu Xiu and the others like a physical blow.

"This is bad! It’s a Red Rank Male! Let’s go!"

Yin Ze, who had been observing from the air, saw this and immediately dove down.

＊＊＊＊＊＊

The rainy season began abruptly, heralded by a sudden, torrential downpour.

Fat raindrops pounded on the roof, creating a dull, dense drumbeat.

The world outside the cave was quickly shrouded in a blanket of white mist, and muddy puddles were already forming in the low-lying areas of the tribe.

Jiao Yin rushed into the cave, bringing a wave of damp, cold air with him. Slung over his shoulder was a freshly hunted horned sheep, its fur soaked through.

"The rain’s too heavy. All the prey are hiding," he said, wiping the water from his face. He tossed the animal onto a stone slab in the corner, his brow furrowed. "This isn’t enough to last the winter. I have to go out again."

He deftly grabbed a dry animal hide to wipe himself down, preparing to leave again as soon as he was finished.

"Jiao Yin! Wait!"

Bai Wanwan hurried forward, but stopped halfway, her hand still outstretched.

She gazed at his handsome profile, made even more striking by the rain. The words, ’We have plenty of food,’ were on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them back.

’The System Space is my biggest secret. It’s too complicated to explain, and I’m afraid it would just cause trouble.’

In the moment she hesitated, Jiao Yin had already pushed the door open again. "Wanwan, take care of yourself and the cubs. I’ll be back soon."

His tall figure disappeared into the curtain of rain once more.

Bai Wanwan stood rooted to the spot, watching until he was gone.

Only then did she turn and walk back inside.

The room was lined with thick, dry hay and furs. Four fluffy little ones were huddled together in a pile, sleeping soundly.

The largest cub was sprawled out on its back, its soft, white belly exposed. A slightly smaller cub was curled up, its head pillowed on another’s leg. The smallest, Snowball, was completely buried in the crook of Hua Han’s arm, with only a tiny tuft of white fur and a twitching pink nose visible.

Hua Han sat beside the cubs, carefully mending a small animal-hide tunic with a Bone Needle. The little ones had torn it while playing.

His movements were gentle and his gaze was focused. Every now and then, he would lift a hand to brush away Snowball’s little paw as it pawed at his leg.

The leaping firelight illuminated his handsome profile.

Watching this scene, Bai Wanwan’s heart filled with warmth and gratitude.

Hua Han’s dedication to the cubs far exceeded her expectations.

From feeding and cleaning to lulling them to sleep and settling their little squabbles, he was patient and meticulous in everything he did.

No wonder the cubs followed him around like little shadows. Snowball, in particular, had become his personal little accessory, following him everywhere he went and refusing to sleep soundly unless it was right beside him.

She walked over and sat down beside the cubs, reaching out to gently tap one of their wet little noses.

The little one whimpered in its sleep and shifted.

Bai Wanwan couldn’t help but smile as she stroked the smooth fur on another cub’s back.

While cradling a cub, Hua Han turned to look at her. "Was Jiao Yin just here?"

"Yes. He was worried we wouldn’t have enough food, so he dropped off his catch and went out again."

After a pause, Bai Wanwan looked at him and said, "Hua Han, thank you. Both of you."

Sensing the sincerity in her voice, Hua Han’s lips curved into a small smile as a ripple spread through his heart.

’There was a time when just getting close to her was an impossible dream,’ he thought. ’But now I can sit beside her, watching over her and the cubs.’ Her gentle voice and sweet scent made him think that spending a lifetime like this would be the greatest happiness.

The rain seemed to be letting up, but an unusual clamor arose from outside the cave, punctuated by anxious shouts.

Bai Wanwan’s heart skipped a beat. "I’m going to the entrance to see what’s happening," she told Hua Han.

"I’ll go with you."

Hua Han carefully set the cubs down. Seeing that they were still sleeping soundly, he stood up and went with her to the doorway.

To their surprise, Jiao Yin, who had just left, came rushing back, his expression even more grim than before.

"What’s wrong?" Bai Wanwan asked, moving to meet him.

"The rain’s too heavy—it carved a new river channel right next to the tribe! Water’s flooding the lower caves!" Jiao Yin said, speaking quickly. "The Clan Leader is leading a group to try and block it, but the current’s too strong. I have to go help."

’The female just gave birth. There’s no way we can leave this place for the winter.’

’I have to eliminate every danger and make this place safer for her.’