"Whoosh!"
Lucian jolted awake, springing upright from the soft bed. A blinding white light hit his face, stinging his eyes until he had to squint. It took him a moment to adjust.
He glanced out the car window. The sun was bright, the sky clear, and the breeze gentle. Lucian let out a quiet sigh of relief. Just a nightmare...
He ran a hand down his back—it was soaked in cold sweat. Even if it had only been a dream, he didn't let his guard down. His instincts told him that Ghostfreak was close to breaking free.
...
Outside the Rustbucket stretched a lush, green forest alive with birdsong and the scent of flowers. Butterflies in dazzling colors danced among wildflowers, joined by dragonflies gliding beside them—a peaceful, vibrant scene.
Rumble! A green SUV roared to a stop, its tires grinding into the dirt as it kicked up a cloud of dust and gravel, shattering the calm.
Several men in black masks jumped out, each armed and tense. The leader, Slick, cast a glance at the nearby Rustbucket but ignored it. To him, anyone driving that rundown RV was just some harmless retiree—nothing to worry about.
"Listen up, boys!" Slick rested an AK-47 on his shoulder. "Today's mission is to catch a Maltese tiger. This species is so rare you won't find one in ten thousand tigers."
"Our client's offering a fortune. If we bag this little kitty, we'll never have to worry about money again!"
A stocky man holding a tranquilizer gun scratched his head. "Boss, do we need it alive or dead?"
Slick's face twitched, and he glared at him. "Chunk, did a donkey kick your head in?"
"Of course alive if we can. But if it comes to it... even a Maltese tiger carcass fetches a nice price."
Chunk ducked his head, mumbling like a scolded kid. "But Boss, Maltese tigers are a top-level protected species. If we take one, won't we..."
"Relax, idiot. Our client bought this lead from a lumberjack who swears he saw signs of one nearby. No one else knows about this yet." Slick grinned slyly.
"Heh... Boss is brilliant." Chunk chuckled awkwardly. The others nodded, understanding the plan.
Once everyone was ready, Slick raised his hand and shouted, "Grab your gear and move out!"
"This mission will not fail!"
"Yes, sir!" The group responded in unison, energized and ready. With their equipment on their backs, they followed Slick into the forest.
Inside the Rustbucket, Ben had his face pressed against the window, watching the poachers disappear into the dense trees. A mischievous spark lit his eyes.
"Time for the heroes to make their move!"
At the table, Gwen tapped at her laptop while explaining, "The Maltese tiger is an incredibly rare creature—intelligent, spiritual, and proud. Reports say fewer than five exist worldwide."
"And once they're captured and lose their freedom, they'll stop eating altogether until they die…"
"We can't let those poachers succeed," Grandpa said firmly.
Lucian nodded slightly. "Good. This'll be a perfect chance for Ben to get some field practice."
No matter how great one's talent, true strength only comes through real combat experience.
With everyone in agreement, they packed up and headed deeper into the forest.
...
Beneath the towering canopy of lush trees, a powerful tiger lay sprawled on the ground, gnawing at the carcass of a moose. Its coat, a blend of black and blue, gleamed with a bright sheen, radiating an almost spiritual vitality. At that moment, it feasted with relish, savoring its recent conquest.
Rustle!
Suddenly, movement stirred in the nearby grass. The Maltese tiger's ears twitched, and it sprang instantly from the elk carcass. It growled low, baring bloodied fangs as it scanned its surroundings warily.
Unbeknownst to it, thirty meters behind, a silver needle-like glint flashed through the grass. Chunk's bulky frame lay concealed in the emerald grass, a tranquilizer gun in hand, aimed squarely at the Maltese tiger's hindquarters.
"Kitty-kitty... time for your shot, heh heh..."
Chunk murmured softly, then pulled the trigger, firing a silver streak of light.
Whoosh!
A thick tranquilizer dart, carrying a chilling aura, shot toward the Maltese tiger like a deadly silver serpent, its fangs bared, moving at lightning speed. Almost simultaneously, the Maltese tiger leaped sideways, narrowly evading the tranquilizer dart.
It bared its sharp fangs and let out a thunderous roar, scattering birds in all directions and sending beasts trembling, frozen in fear. The Maltese tiger sprang up, its claws leaving deep gashes in the ground as it charged toward Chunk's position, roaring furiously.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Suddenly, several more tranquilizer darts shot fiercely from other directions, all targeting the Maltese tiger. The Maltese tiger growled lowly, weaving through the trees, dodging every single tranquilizer dart in succession. It then abandoned its attack on Chunk, accelerating at full speed and fleeing deep into the forest.
Slick couldn't sit still any longer. He burst out from behind a large tree, waving his arms.
"Damn it! What the hell are you lot doing? Not a single shot hit! Get your asses moving and chase it down!"
The others scrambled frantically, crawling out from their hiding spots in different directions.
"Boss, you fired too," Chunk remarked quietly.
Slick pounded his chest in fury.
"Cut the crap! Everyone chase him! If we don't catch that Maltese tiger, none of you eat tonight!"
No sooner had he spoken than Chunk, without a word, grabbed his tranquilizer gun and charged deep into the forest. His speed left the others trailing behind him silently impressed.
Good grief, was this some hungry spirit from a past life come back to haunt us?
But Slick quickly snapped back to reality and led the others in hot pursuit.
...
Following the trail, the group gradually reached the deepest part of the forest. Towering trees stood all around, their heights piercing the clouds and blocking out the sunlight above. Soon, a dimly lit cave appeared ahead. Green vines cascaded down its entrance like a waterfall, obscuring their view.
Slick sneered coldly.
"This beast won't get far now!"
Once he captured this Maltese tiger, he'd rise to prominence, transforming from a commoner into a noble.
At Slick's command, Chunk and the others, weapons in hand, slowly entered the gloomy opening...
After an unknown amount of time, a terrifying tiger's roar erupted from within the cave. The Maltese tiger, several syringes stuck in its body, staggered and struggled its way out of the cave.
An excruciating numbness instantly engulfed its entire body, slowing its steps to a crawl. Seeing this, Chunk and the others immediately gave chase from behind. They swiftly assembled the portable folding cage they carried and, mustering every ounce of strength, forced the weakened Maltese tiger inside.
"Hahahaha!" Slick cackled maniacally, slapping the iron cage and grinning.
"Run! Why aren't you running now?"
"Boss, because it can't run anymore," Chunk scratched his head awkwardly.
"Duh!" Slick shot him a withering glance before ordering the others to lift the Maltese tiger and prepare to head back.
Suddenly, a young boy leaped out from the grass ahead.
"Hero enters the stage!"
Ben Tennyson stood straight-backed before the poachers, hands on hips.
...
Silence fell over the group, the atmosphere turning awkward.
Slick snorted coldly, snarling, "Kid, get the hell out of here or I won't be polite!"
"Release the tiger," Ben declared fearlessly.
"Move aside!"
Slick snatched an AK-47 and aimed it directly at Ben.
"Looks like the wise man has come down from the mountain to set things straight."
Ben pressed his watch, rapidly switching modes.
"You bunch of losers, let the superhero teach you a lesson!"
Boom!
Deep within the forest, an intense green light erupted...
...
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