Chapter 530 - 527: A Close Call

Chapter 530: Chapter 527: A Close Call

Blood and broken feathers rained down from the sky.

Elegant and deadly, Jin Yi’s figure descended. He held the neck of a still-twitching Eagle Beast in his mouth, while another had its skull instantly crushed by his powerful forepaw, its body slamming into the ground like a rag doll.

The immense power of a Red Rank Male was on full display!

However, the Eagle Beasts were numerous and appeared to possess a certain degree of intelligence.

They immediately realized this golden lion was an incredibly tough opponent, impossible to fight head-on.

So, the flock of eagles immediately changed their strategy.

They stopped trying to force their way through the rear, where Jin Yi stood guard. Instead, they let out a series of sharp cries. Like a black tide splitting apart, they quickly fanned out, attempting to bypass Jin Yi from the sides and the sky further ahead to attack the middle and front of the column!

"Watch the flanks!"

"Look out above! They’re coming from the sky!"

The males in the group shouted warnings, and the battle erupted on multiple fronts in an instant!

Jin Yi’s expression was grim. He couldn’t stay in one place. Like a golden whirlwind, he zipped along the outer edge of the group at high speed, intercepting the attackers.

Every leap sent a shower of blood into the air and was met with the dying shriek of an Eagle Beast.

His claws easily tore through the Eagle Beasts’ tough wings, and his fangs precisely snapped their throats.

His massive lion tail was like a steel whip; a single sweep could shatter the bones of any Eagle Beast that dared to get close.

But there were simply too many Eagle Beasts, and they were extremely cunning. They used their aerial advantage to perform endless harassing dives. If a strike missed, they would immediately soar high again, wearing down the stamina and focus of the Beastmen below.

Occasionally, an Eagle Beast would break through the defensive line, its talons reaching for a running female or trying to snatch a cub from her arms!

A chaotic mix of pained screams, the terrified wails of cubs, the furious roars of the males, and the piercing cries of the Eagle Beasts filled the air.

Yan Lie guarded the front, protecting Bai Wanwan and the cubs. He didn’t engage in combat, instead using the time while the other males fought the Eagle Beasts to find a safe path, slowly guiding the large group toward the tribe.

Bai Wanwan’s heart was clenched tight. She held her cubs close.

Shuang Hua was older, after all. She was frightened by the scene, but she did her best to remain calm and soothe Bai Wanwan and the other females.

"Don’t panic, everyone. These Eagle Beasts just look scary. See how brave our tribe’s Warriors are? They won’t be able to hurt us."

And it was true. Many of the females slowly began to calm down.

The journey home, which wasn’t supposed to be very long, now seemed endless. Every step was taken on the edge of danger.

Finally, the tribe’s tall, sturdy walls and watchtowers appeared before them.

And under the leadership of Jin Yi, the tribe members had fought back and slaughtered nearly all of the attacking Eagle Beasts.

By the time reinforcements from the tribe arrived, the fighting had already subsided.

The males stood guard on both sides of the path, allowing the females and cubs to enter the safety of the tribe.

Jin Yi was the last to leap into the tribe. He immediately ordered, "Close the gate."

The heavy gates boomed shut.

But just then, another flock of Eagle Beasts appeared. They circled high above the tribe from a distance.

They let out mournful, hate-filled cries.

Seeing this, Jin Yi, who had his arm around Bai Wanwan’s shoulder, immediately let go. "Wanwan, don’t leave Yan Lie’s side. I’m going up to check the situation."

The Eagle Beasts outside the gate did not disperse as they usually would once their prey had reached a safe area.

They continued to circle like a dark cloud over the Golden Lion Tribe, their incessant, sharp cries grating on the nerves.

The atmosphere in the tribe, which had just calmed down, immediately grew tense again.

Jin Yi turned his head and ordered a male beside him, "Have the males return to their own cubs and females. Just in case."

"Yes, Young Clan Leader."

After the male left to relay the order, Jin Yi remained standing where he was.

He watched the resentful Eagle Beasts as they lingered in the sky, refusing to leave.

Their continuous noise and harassment cast a heavy shadow over the entire tribe.

After a long while, that dark shadow slowly pressed closer.

Jin Yi stood on the wall, his blood-stained mane fluttering in the wind. His golden eyes stared coldly at the black mass of the eagle flock outside, his expression more severe than ever.

"Everyone, prepare for battle!"

Just as Jin Yi finished speaking, a huge Eagle Beast suddenly dove toward him.

It seemed intent on taking him down with it.

Jin Yi prepared to strike back and rip its throat out.

But as it dove, the Eagle Beast stopped short, hovering at a much safer altitude.

"Golden Lions, you killed our kin. We will remember this debt!"

Jin Yi stared at it coldly. "Don’t forget where you are. When you Eagle Beasts try to harm our females and cubs, you should expect this outcome."

"So what? Regardless of the reason, you were the ones who killed them."

After speaking, the Eagle Beast flapped its wings forcefully, kicking up a hurricane of wind from the ground. Dust flew everywhere, forcing Bai Wanwan and the other females to shut their eyes.

When they opened their eyes again, the flock of Eagle Beasts was already receding into the distance...

Jin Yi’s brow furrowed. He instructed the other males to keep an eye on the situation outside.

After speaking, he was about to descend from the wall and return to Bai Wanwan’s side when his steps suddenly halted. "Have there been frequent Eagle Beast attacks on females and cubs near the tribe recently?"

The captain of the guard, still bearing bloody marks from his fight with the Eagle Beasts, answered respectfully, "Young Clan Leader, it doesn’t happen often. Since you left, this is the second time. But because we’ve strengthened patrols in the area, we’ve always been able to spot and drive them off in time. So, it’s always just been close calls, and none of the females or cubs have been injured."

Hearing this, Jin Yi nodded, but his brow didn’t relax. "You’ve all worked hard, but we cannot let our guard down. Send word: for the near future, all patrols heading out must double their numbers and be on highest alert!"

’He understood the Beastmen’s inherent love for nature. The only nearby water source and the pleasant riverbank were rare recreational spots for the females and cubs. But lately... things have probably gotten dangerous.’

"Yes, Young Clan Leader. I’ll pass the order and tell the males to be more vigilant."

Meanwhile, feeling safe, Shi Hua let out a long sigh of relief. She walked over to Bai Wanwan, patting her chest, the lingering terror still visible on her face.

"That scared me to death! Starting from the Yan Ji last year, I don’t know why, but it was like the nearby Eagle Beasts just vanished. It’s been so peaceful. I can’t believe they’ve suddenly shown up again, and they’re so crazed! Those disgusting, feathered beasts!"

She complained, her tone filled with frustration.

The reappearance of the Eagle Beasts meant that for a long time to come, for safety’s sake, the females and cubs would probably be unable to go out to play. They would be "imprisoned" within the high walls of the tribe until it was safe outside once more.