Chapter 3: The Double-Jawed Beast

Chapter 3: The Dual-Jawed Beast

After the truck resumed normal travel, Luo Ke finally took a look around.

In the original storyline, the gravity suit 4068 should have been driving recklessly, but at this moment it sat quietly to one side. The original Kori had not lost most of his life essence and was bringing up the rear alongside Mark and the others.

Only then did Luo Ke realize that among the three hydra dogs he had previously lured away, one had actually headed in the direction that 4068 was escaping toward.

No wonder the original plot wasn’t triggered—the hydra dog that had knocked down Kori had already become his nourishment.

By a twist of fate, it seemed the original storyline had been altered again. If 4068 hadn’t been caught by the blond-haired one with all those incriminating details, who knew whether some of the subsequent events would have even occurred.

Luo Ke was still uncertain; for now, he could only take things step by step. He was neither a nanny to the Lighthouse nor the Dustborn. He just wanted to ensure the main group had a better ending as they evolved through devouring.

“Roar—”

As the convoy approached the canyon, a bone-chilling roar echoed through the sky, like a demonic sound piercing the ears. Everyone covered their ears, struggling to withstand it.

The ground trembled, and a bizarre, enormous human-like face peeked around the corner, followed by a long, thick neck and a massive body.

The Dual-Jawed Beast!

With its appearance, the hydra dogs bowed as if before their king.

Countless bullets struck its body but were as ineffective as a light scrape—no marks were even left.

It ran through the ancient, abandoned city ruins, its huge gaping maw nearly swallowing Mark and the others several times.

Luo Ke glanced ahead to the vast desert plain. Something was wrong—according to the original plot, Bai Yue Kui should have appeared by now, and the Devouring Beast should have ceased its attack.

What was going on?

Hydra dogs surged forth from all directions, their small, intelligent eyes darting around.

“Captain! We’re out of ammo!” Jeff shouted.

“Gravity suits cover the rear! The convoy must get on the platform first. Ran Bing, you retreat!” Mark commanded decisively.

“Got it. Be careful,” Ran Bing replied. Without a gravity suit, she knew staying behind would only be a burden. With Mark’s help, she quickly jumped onto a truck.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Several gravity suits fought with all their might to cover them. The battle was intense and couldn’t last long.

In the distance, the Lighthouse appeared, and a slowly descending elevator platform came into view.

“Watch out!” Mo Cheng suddenly shouted.

From a nearby mountain jumped a massive Devouring Beast.

Its toad-like body had two small ears atop its head and two dull eyes, with three arms on each side supporting its torso.

This was... the Terrapin Beast!

The same type of Devouring Beast that Hong Kou had slain in the storyline.

Still midair, the Terrapin Beast suddenly tore open its mouth, revealing its true head deep inside its throat. Its sharp elongated mouthparts were lined with teeth, and its deadfish-like eyes were truly unsettling.

Honestly, these Devouring Beasts all looked grotesque, especially with their heads constantly stretching and retracting, which always made Luo Ke’s mind wander in the wrong direction.

Bang!

The Terrapin Beast launched a fierce tiger-like pounce, flipping the truck where Luo Ke and Fei Xue were riding. Several Dustborn fell badly injured, only to be instantly bitten to pieces as their life essence was drained.

4068 helped up his friends 4079 and the old man 0609, and without hesitation, they sprinted desperately toward the elevator platform.

Though annoying, this guy at least tried to save many people.

“Rescue!” Mark led the gravity suits in a breakout attempt, but the combined assault of hydra dogs and the Dual-Jawed Beast was too overwhelming to maneuver freely.

Meanwhile, the Terrapin Beast set its sights on Luo Ke and charged with a wild roar.

Luo Ke ran while grabbing a rifle off the ground. He fired a few shots before immediately discarding it—what kind of weak scraping weapons were these? His fists would do more damage.

“Get down!” Fei Xue’s cold voice rang out nearby.

Just as she spoke, her specially modified pistol fired several explosive rounds, striking the leaping Terrapin Beast.

Luo Ke twitched at the corner of his mouth, touching his nearly singed thick hair. That crazy woman!

As for Fei Xue’s attack… it was merely a mild scrape.

The Terrapin Beast, caught off guard, had flames rolling over one side of its forehead, its skin charred. It howled in pain and fury, shifting its attack toward Fei Xue.

Click.

Out of ammo, Fei Xue had no choice but to get up and run, but how could she outrun a giant beast?

“Fei Xue!” Erika dragged her massive shield, attempting a rescue.

“Fei Xue!” Ran Bing aimed her sniper rifle from afar, trying to delay the beast.

“Fei Xue!” Mo Cheng, driving the transport, helplessly watched the scene unfold in his rearview mirror.

“Everyone, take evasive action—” Mark’s voice cracked with desperation.

Boom—

Suddenly, the rear Dual-Jawed Beast shuddered. Its dark maw glowed with a crimson light, then a scorching beam shot forth, sweeping across the desert.

Sand, stones, and old buildings alike were pulverized into dust, filling the eyes with a bleak, gray haze. A sustained ringing deafened everyone.

The beam, like a hellish sword of destruction, pierced the sky and earth.

Kori, wearing a gravity suit, couldn’t dodge in time. Both he and his mech exploded on the spot, turning into swirling dust.

The Terrapin Beast chasing Fei Xue was also engulfed by the beam, while Fei Xue herself, at the same level, miraculously survived.

Luo Ke once again saved her, but luck was not on his side this time.

He couldn’t avoid it!

His back was grazed by the edge of the beam!

The two were thrown by the force, tumbling before crashing into a distant canyon.

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