Chapter 1011 - 1009 The Mutated Wolf VS The Mutated Porcupine 2

More importantly, the wolf could also serve as a mount.

That alone would drastically enhance Sparrow’s mobility, allowing him to travel across vast terrains at high speed while conserving his own stamina, making long-range reconnaissance far more efficient and far less risky.

As for the mutated porcupine, its role was even clearer in Kisha’s mind.

Vulture, who possessed an earth-based awakened ability, would be the perfect match for a defensive, fortress-like beast. Fighting side by side, the two could form an almost impenetrable frontline. The porcupine’s metal-hardened body and ranged quill attacks would provide both defense and area suppression, while Vulture’s earth abilities could reinforce terrain control and protection.

Back to back on the battlefield, they would resemble a moving bastion, slow, steady, and incredibly difficult to break through.

In Kisha’s eyes, it was a simple and efficient pairing.

One for speed, stealth, and mobility.

One for defense, stability, and battlefield control.

And if both mutated animals were secured, her team’s overall combat structure would be elevated to an entirely new level.

"Good..." Kisha murmured softly to herself, her gaze fixed intently on the two mutated animals in the distance, a faint glint of anticipation shining in her eyes.

She didn’t have to wait much longer.

The signs of exhaustion soon became obvious. The once explosive movements of the mutated black wolf had noticeably slowed, its dashes no longer as sharp as before despite the fact that it had already cleared out a large portion of the surrounding trees. Even with the widened battlefield it had painstakingly created, it still failed to fully break through the porcupine’s iron-like defense.

But the mutated porcupine was in no better state.

Its earlier relentless volleys of steel-like quills had gradually decreased in frequency. The regeneration and repeated firing had clearly consumed most of its spiritual energy, and now its attacks were becoming sparse and less aggressive. The once overwhelming barrage had dwindled into occasional, restrained shots.

Eventually, both mutated animals stopped attacking altogether.

They stood several meters apart, locked in a tense standoff.

Neither moved.

Neither attacked.

It was as if they had reached a silent understanding; whoever made the first reckless move would expose themselves to a fatal counterattack. Both were conserving the last remnants of their spiritual energy, preparing for one final, decisive clash that would determine the victor... and the corpse left behind.

"Oh," Kisha whispered, her lips curving slightly. "The final act."

Her eyes sharpened immediately.

"I need to move now."

Without hesitation, she slipped off the branch and leapt downward, her body descending gracefully as she subtly used her telekinesis to slow her fall. The controlled descent ensured she made almost no sound upon landing, minimizing the chance of drawing the attention of the two hyper-alert mutated animals.

Rather than rushing in recklessly, she began to advance carefully, closing the distance with calculated steps.

Her goal was clear.

She had to get close enough to intervene before either mutated animal launched that final, lethal attack, to subdue them at the brink of exhaustion and prevent them from killing each other in their last desperate exchange.

After seeing Kisha make her move, Ethan immediately grasped her intention.

She was going to intervene.

Without hesitation, he began to carefully climb down the tree, his movements slow and controlled to avoid making any unnecessary noise. Each step was deliberate as he landed lightly on the forest floor, then followed behind her at a cautious distance. He kept his body low, using the fallen trees and remaining trunks as cover while watching his footing, ensuring that neither of the two mutated animals would notice his approach.

His breathing remained steady, his attention split between Kisha’s figure ahead and the tense standoff in the distance.

However, before he could even close half the distance.

Kisha suddenly moved.

In a blur of motion, she dashed forward with explosive speed. The moment she was within range, her hand lifted slightly, fingers curling as her telekinetic power surged outward. Invisible force spread through the air like unseen hands, striking at the perfect moment when both mutated animals were completely fixated on each other and least aware of their surroundings.

They never saw it coming.

One second, they were locked in a silent stare-down.

The next —

Their bodies were abruptly lifted off the ground.

The massive black wolf and the armored porcupine were both seized mid-moment by an overwhelming invisible grip, their limbs leaving the earth as if caught by giant, unseen hands. Suspended in midair, the two mutated animals reacted instantly, their bodies thrashing and struggling violently as they tried to break free from the sudden restraint.

The wolf twisted and snarled, wind energy flickering weakly around its body, while the porcupine’s quills rattled as it attempted to brace and resist. Yet no matter how they struggled, the telekinetic hold kept them firmly suspended, their exhausted state making it even harder to escape the unseen force binding them in place.

"Grrr...!"

The mutated black wolf let out a low, frustrated growl as it twisted violently in midair, muscles tensing as it tried to wrench itself free from the invisible force restraining it. Its limbs thrashed, claws swiping at empty air as it struggled to regain control of its body, but no matter how hard it resisted, it couldn’t break free. Being suspended helplessly above the ground only seemed to agitate it further, its instincts flaring with unease.

Its ears flattened, tail stiff as it growled again, more aggressively this time.

Then, unexpectedly —

"Awoo..."

The sound that escaped it shifted into a softer, almost pitiful whine before it quickly reverted back to baring its fangs and growling in warning. It was as if the beast was instinctively switching tactics, first pleading, then threatening, trying every response it could think of to escape the unseen restraint.

Kisha blinked once, faintly amused.

For such a fierce-looking mutated predator, its reactions were oddly expressive. One moment it looked feral and intimidating, the next it let out a low whimper as if testing whether vulnerability would earn it leniency. When that didn’t work, it immediately returned to a defensive snarl, clearly intelligent enough to alternate between intimidation and appeasement.

"Silly... but a little cute," she thought quietly.

Meanwhile, the mutated porcupine’s reaction was far less composed.

"Sqeeaaak!!!"

It let out a loud, panicked squeal, its round body trembling as it flailed helplessly in the air, quills rattling noisily like metal spikes scraping against each other. Unlike the wolf’s cautious growls, the porcupine’s cries sounded more like a distressed animal being dragged against its will, high-pitched and frantic as it struggled uselessly against the invisible grip holding it firmly in place.

After struggling fiercely for a while, the two mutated animals gradually seemed to realize a harsh truth: no matter how violently they twisted or resisted, the invisible grip binding them would not loosen.

Their movements slowly weakened.

The mutated porcupine’s frantic squeals diminished into low, uneasy sounds as its body sagged midair, its quills no longer rattling as aggressively. Meanwhile, the black wolf stopped thrashing altogether, its limbs hanging tensely as it remained suspended, conserving what little strength it had left.

When Kisha finally stepped out from the forest and into their line of sight, the black wolf’s body stiffened immediately.

Its ears twitched, and it instinctively bared its fangs, a low warning rumble vibrating in its throat as its sharp eyes locked onto her figure. For a brief moment, it looked ready to lash out the instant the restraint weakened.

But then...

Perhaps sensing its helpless predicament, its demeanor subtly shifted.

The growl softened. Its posture lowered slightly despite being suspended, and it stopped showing outright hostility. Instead, it stared at Kisha with an oddly expressive gaze, wary, tense, yet almost... pitiful. Its eyes held a faint, soulful look, as if instinctively gauging whether aggression or submission would yield a better outcome.

Kisha’s brows lifted slightly in interest.

This wasn’t just a simple mutation of body and ability.

Its intelligence had clearly evolved as well.

The way it assessed the situation, restrained its aggression, and even adjusted its behavior in front of a stronger presence showed a level of cognition far beyond that of an ordinary mutated animal. The realization only made Kisha more intrigued and far more determined to secure it.

Her lips curved faintly with amusement as she stepped closer, her gaze sharp and analytical.

Then, without hesitation, she activated her "Eye of Truth" and examined both mutated animals one after the other. As their stat panels appeared before her, her eyes flickered with genuine surprise.

For a brief second, even she couldn’t hide her astonishment.

Their attributes, abilities, and growth potential were far higher than she had initially estimated.

She had truly lucked out today.

The moment Kisha finished scanning them, her pupils flickered with undisguised delight.

Their stats...

They were almost on par with Zeus when she had first obtained him.

For a split second, she nearly burst out laughing.

She pressed her lips together to suppress it, but her shoulders still trembled slightly as she stared at the stat panels hovering invisibly before her.