The borderland between Texas and Arkansas.
Dense forests covered the plains ahead, turning this place into a primeval forbidden zone.
Looking at the path ahead, which even trucks couldn't traverse, Chris carried Dumpling out of the big truck, took a deep breath of fresh air, and said, "Can you find that guy's exact location? I really don't want to walk into its territory."
Dumpling adjusted his wristband, fiddled with it for a moment, and said, "No, this area has been contaminated by that guy. Its residual aura is everywhere, so I can't pinpoint its location directly."
"Shit!" Chris kicked a stone into the jungle. The immense force made the stone fly out as if launched by a trebuchet, creating a huge sound in the forest and startling a flock of birds and beasts.
Having kicked a stone to vent his dissatisfaction, Chris calmed down and said, "Then you two wait here. I'll go kill that monster, and then we'll leave directly."
"Nonono, there's no way I'm staying here. I want to see what a Wendigo really looks like."
Dumpling directly shook his finger in refusal. Having come all this way, there was no way he would stay behind.
Ruby, on the other hand, remained silent, but the concern in her eyes was not feigned.
Seeing that neither of them wanted to stay, Chris sighed, "Alright, but just in case, you two need to be fully protected."
Hearing Chris agree, Ruby flipped into the carriage and, in a short while, emerged heavily bundled.
Chris took a glance: bulletproof vests and protective suits as base layers, grenade launchers, flamethrowers, and a Gatling gun covering her entire body.
For other firearms, she only had two shotguns; the rest of the space was used to carry grenades, incendiary agents, and other types of hand grenades.
Then Ruby put a bulletproof vest that could cover Dumpling's entire body on him, nodded, and said, "Boss, it's ready."
Dumpling tugged hard at the collar around his neck, ensuring he could breathe normally, before complaining, "What exactly did you teach her? With you by her side, does she really need to be so thoroughly prepared?"
Chris, who was about to lead the way, turned around and said solemnly, "I still think her equipment isn't enough. If we hadn't been in such a hurry, I would have wanted to get her a tank to drive."
Dumpling was speechless, thinking to himself, 'This kid must have come from Huaxia in his previous life; his personality is so cautious.'
However, Dumpling had no idea that ever since he suspected the monster vying for the origin of life with him was a Wendigo, Chris had collected a lot of information about this monster.
And the more he collected, the more Chris felt that this guy was difficult to deal with.
From various legends and stories, this monster possessed immense strength, speed like lightning, immortality, and mental abilities such as creating illusions.
And if some mythological settings were also included, it might even possess certain magical abilities.
Therefore, facing the strongest monster he had ever encountered in his life, Chris couldn't afford to be anything but cautious.
Upon arriving at the forest, Chris took out several dragon blood potions, handed a few to Ruby, and then drank three himself.
Abundant energy filled his entire body, bringing Chris to his peak condition.
Then Chris activated all the abilities he possessed: the ill fate from the God of Death, the mental perception Mickey had, and his most fundamental regenerative power.
After awakening all his abilities to their peak state, Chris stepped into the cold, damp, dense forest.
Unlike Chris's tension, Dumpling sat on Ruby's shoulder, curiously observing the dense forest that had been eroded by the Wendigo's power.
His wristband continuously emitted detection waves, recording information about the surrounding environment.
As for Ruby, ever since she stepped in here, she felt like she had come home. Not only did her strength return to its peak, but her life level also began to slowly increase.
However, noticing Ruby's abnormality, Chris quickly reminded her, "Don't get lost in this dark power; you won't be able to control it."
Hearing Chris's command, Ruby instantly rejected this elevation of life level, both physically and mentally, severing her connection to this place.
Seeing that Ruby's mind was still clear, Chris took out a monomolecular combat knife from his wristband and stared coldly ahead.
"Don't stray too far from me; that monster is up ahead."
Ruby and Dumpling looked curiously in the direction Chris pointed, only to find it pitch black, seeing nothing.
However, from Chris's perspective, there was a giant beast emanating dark aura, currently in slumber.
A massive deer head rested on humanoid beast claws, peacefully resting.
Seeing that the monster seemed to be in slumber, Chris actively restrained his aura, then slowly approached it.
After considering that the life levels of Dumpling and Ruby wouldn't be enough for the Wendigo to sense danger, Chris didn't suggest they stay behind.
After all, they had already entered the Wendigo's domain. If they were to separate from him rashly, there was a good chance they would be attacked by the Wendigo individually.
So, it was better for them to stay by his side, so that Chris could intervene immediately if anything happened.
Thinking this, Chris led the two within a few meters of the Wendigo.
Looking at the still-sleeping Wendigo, Chris's eyes were full of doubt, but his hand honestly raised his machete and sharply brought it down towards the Wendigo's deer head.
Swoosh—
A sensation like a hot knife cutting through butter entered Chris's mind, but immediately after, the ill fate ability from the God of Death made him realize something was wrong. His body instinctively rolled over, and his combat knife slashed backward with the momentum.
With a tearing sound, a few drops of liquid splattered out, landing on the ground with a 'sizzling' corrosive sound.
This was followed by a strong gust of wind, which almost made Dumpling fall off Ruby's shoulder.
"So fast! That monster discovered us as soon as we came in. You two stay still."
Even with Chris's dynamic vision, capable of seeing objects at supersonic speeds, he could only make out that the thing that had just attacked him was a humanoid shadow.
However, even without seeing its specific appearance, Chris knew that it was his target, the Wendigo.
While guarding against another attack from the Wendigo, Chris glanced at what he had attacked.
A giant rock split in half.
It seemed that from the moment they entered here, they had already been outsmarted by the Wendigo.
The monster might have sensed that Chris was difficult to deal with, so it created an illusion to attract Chris's attention.
Then, it ambushed Chris while he was careless.
Fortunately, although the Wendigo's speed far exceeded Chris's, from the single blow exchanged just now, its strength was far from a match for Chris.
It was precisely because of this that Chris was not at all flustered.
As long as he was certain that this guy's strange abilities couldn't harm him, and its physical abilities were no match for him, and he still possessed the monomolecular weapon capable of piercing its defenses.
Then, all he had to do was find the Wendigo's weakness, prevent it from utilizing its speed advantage to the fullest, and Chris could slowly kill that guy.
Let it know what cruelty was!