Just then, a sudden roar from a monster beast echoed from afar, making everyone stop in their tracks.
Zack Zhao glanced toward the direction of the sound and said, "You can tell just from that roar, this monster beast is anything but ordinary. We should be careful—if necessary, we can detour around it."
"Zack, you're the number one expert in our academy! Are you actually scared?" one of the students joked, clearly trying to flatter him.
Zack Zhao shot the speaker a look and replied, "Number one expert? Even the top expert has no choice but to run when facing a sixth- or seventh-rank monster beast. Don't forget, our instructors warned us there are seventh-rank beasts in here. Stay alert, or you won't even know how you died."
Everyone felt a chill after hearing this. They'd thought following Zack Zhao guaranteed safety, but now they weren't so sure.
"Wait here for a moment," Zack said. "I'll go check things out. If it's not too strong, we'll kill it; otherwise, we'll avoid it." With that, he vanished in a blur.
Jenny Sima was worried too. After more than ten days in the forest, their group had hunted hundreds of monster beasts together—the toughest being a fifth-rank beast, which had given them real trouble. If they really ran into the sixth- or even seventh-rank monsters Zack mentioned, who knew if they'd escape alive?
The only thing she truly regretted was that Evan Chu wasn't by her side. If Evan were here, even if she died to a monster beast, she wouldn't have any regrets. Not that she'd let that happen—because as long as Evan was around, he'd do everything he could to protect her.
Zack Zhao sprinted ahead for a while, then slowed down—he could hear the sounds of a monster beast moving not far away.
After advancing a few hundred meters, he stopped. A monster beast the size of a small mountain was heading his way. Its appearance was bizarre—part wolf, part tiger.
"Holy crap, what kind of monster beast is that? It's absolutely massive—at least sixth-rank, no, maybe even seventh-rank!" Zack Zhao thought in shock.
It was the first time he'd seen such a terrifying beast. Even as Heavenly Dragon Academy's top expert, Zack was rattled—he spun around and fled for his life.
Of course, the enormous monster beast spotted Zack too. With a deafening roar, it charged after him.
Zack ran fast, but the beast was even faster. At first, they were about two hundred meters apart, but in less than a minute, the gap shrank by dozens of meters.
When the monster beast was only fifty meters away, Zack's figure appeared back in view of the squad—and they immediately saw the giant beast chasing him.
"Oh my god, Zack actually led such a huge beast over here—does he have a death wish?" one student reacted quickly, spinning around and bolting.
"Run!" Zack Zhao shouted, his voice reaching everyone's ears.
Seeing the massive beast chasing Zack, Jenny Sima felt a wave of despair. She thought this might really be where she died.
A few students ran, but most stayed—not because they were stupid, but because if they fled, Zack would be in real danger. This was when true team spirit showed.
Panting, Zack Zhao reached the group and, astonished, asked, "Why didn't you run? That beast is way beyond what we can kill!"
"Of course we wanted to run, but what's the point of leaving you behind? If that beast is really as strong as you say, it'll catch us no matter what. We might as well see if we can kill it together!" one student said.
This student was well known in Heavenly Dragon Academy—third in the strength rankings, a bit stronger than Quinn Wu. His name was Leon Liu.
Zack Zhao was genuinely moved. Maybe this was what true brotherhood looked like—only revealed in the most dangerous and difficult moments.
The monster beast drew closer. Though everyone was tense, no one backed down—they all drew their weapons, ready to fight.
"Good! Excellent! Today we'll face off with a high-rank beast—even if we die, it'll be worth it!" Zack Zhao laughed.
The monster beast reached the group, but instead of attacking, it stopped ten meters away. Its huge eyes stared at them.
Just as Zack and the others were about to strike, the beast suddenly spoke: "You've got guts, staying here like this. Planning to kill me together?"
It was the first time any of them had heard a monster beast speak. They were stunned—just like when Evan Chu's group first heard Goldwing talk.
Their shock quickly turned to fear—a beast that could speak was at least seventh-rank. Maybe they really wouldn't make it out alive.
Seeing the fear on everyone's faces, Zack Zhao said, "We're just passing through. We didn't expect to meet a senior like you. With our strength, we're not worthy to be your enemies."
Sometimes giving the other side a flattering title works wonders. Even if a monster beast can speak, it's still a beast—its mind can't compare to a human's, Zack Zhao thought privately.
The Skyfiend Tiger swung its huge head, and a suffocating pressure radiated from its body—an innate beastly aura that made Zack and the others even more anxious.
"Kid, this tiger isn't falling for your tricks. Here, I'm the king. You've slaughtered countless of my kin—shouldn't I just swallow you all?"
"You're above us, and we're no match for you—fine. But we won't just surrender. If you want to eat us, go ahead and try!" Jenny Sima suddenly declared.
Everyone shot Jenny Sima a reproachful look. Was she trying to provoke the beast? That was practically suicide.
"You've got guts, girl. This tiger likes that. But I wonder what you look like—why not take off your veil and show me? If I'm pleased, maybe I'll let you all go," the Skyfiend Tiger continued.
"Dream on. You're not worthy!" Jenny Sima snapped. The idea of being insulted by a beast was unbelievable—but here it was, happening to her.
Suddenly, the Skyfiend Tiger flashed with gray light, and a young man—no older than thirty—appeared before them.
The beast's transformation into a human form stunned everyone. Many thought they must be dreaming, but it was real—right in front of them.
With a wave of his hand, a powerful gust swept Jenny Sima up as if by an invisible giant hand, holding her motionless in midair.
Her veil fell away, revealing a face of peerless beauty to everyone present...
PS: Please subscribe, vote, and reward! Next chapter preview: Evan Chu and Goldwing battle the Skyfiend Tiger!