Whoosh!
The bolt shot out again with a whistle, carrying Chuck's killing intent toward the tiger's head.
As expected, this tiger was stronger and larger than any he had imagined.
However, compared to tigers in the civilized world hunted by humans for millennia, it lacked critical "anti-human" skill points.
So when it closed within twenty meters, ready to swallow the two-legged beast who killed its lackey and poked its butt, it didn't even register the wooden contraption in front of Chuck.
When the bolt broke the air at unimaginable speed from such close range...
It was no surprise it couldn't react.
Squelch.
The bolt not only hit the tiger's head but luckily pierced its left eye, sinking three inches deep. Blood splattered instantly.
Hit!
Chuck was ecstatic. The terrifying beast stumbled and rolled on the ground, howling in pain.
"ROAR!!!"
The massive sound wave nearly ruptured Chuck's eardrums. Ignoring it, heart racing, he grabbed another bolt and began reloading.
The close distance allowed Chuck to fully feel the King of the Jungle's oppressive aura.
A massive body over three meters long (excluding tail) and nearly 1.5 meters high at the shoulder. Estimated weight: over 300kg. Bigger and scarier than the black bear!
Crucially, unlike the fat-heavy bear, this tiger was pure muscle!
Like picking a fight on the street and finding two guys of the same weight: one a 300lb obese man, the other a 300lb pre-retirement The Rock.
Even the bear gave Chuck trouble. Facing the Rock-Tiger, even with superhuman stats, Chuck had no desire for a head-on fight.
The lucky eye-shot exceeded expectations. While it rolled in pain, Chuck aimed to deliver another heavy blow!
But the tiger wasn't a lamb to the slaughter. The intelligent overlord of the plains wasn't a small fry to fall for the same trick twice.
An eye shot was grievous, but not brain-damaging. Roaring in fury, the tiger scrambled up, face covered in blood, and lunged at Chuck without warning!
Crunch!!
Wood chips flew. The ballista Chuck spent days building shattered like tofu under the tiger's claws.
Chuck rolled backward, clutching a bolt. No time to mourn the weapon; he raised the bolt without aiming...
"Hah!"
Seizing the moment the tiger was blocked by debris, he stepped forward and hurled the bolt! Then he turned and sprinted toward the cave.
The ballista was destroyed. Chuck lost his means to fight, but the tiger's injuries were fatal.
Even if not dead now, blood loss and pain would cause shock within hours.
So if Chuck escaped, this boss fight was won!
This time, Chuck sprinted at max speed toward the cave.
"ROAR—"
Another roar behind him, filled with rage.
Chuck knew his thrown bolt hadn't done much damage.
Having been hit twice, the intelligent tiger understood Chuck's attacks and dodged.
The thrown bolt only left a shallow gash on its shoulder.
Three wounds: eye (critical), butt (bleeding), shoulder (superficial).
Though not immediately dead, death was certain.
Like all dying beasts, fear of death and rage at the enemy drove it into a berserk state.
Despite the bolts in its eye and ass, it chased Chuck with undiminished speed, roaring.
Blood trailed behind it. The distance closed.
Chuck didn't dare look back. He could only run.
The cave entrance neared. So did the roars and footsteps.
Chuck felt the shadow of death descending.
As he ran, scenes flashed before his eyes.
The women, the facilities, his island life, pre-island memories, even childhood fragments.
Is this the revolving lantern?
He kept running, surprisingly devoid of fear.
He realized he had long been prepared for this day.
Just as death seemed inevitable, a familiar voice shouted from above!
"Dodge!"
Chuck froze, looked up, and dove forward, rolling on the ground.
A steel javelin whistled over his head.
"ROAR!!!"
The tiger roared again. Chuck scrambled up. Valentina stood outside the cave, shouting anxiously.
"Hurry!"
It was Valentina!
Chuck didn't see the javelin's effect, but he knew without her risky move, he'd be dead.
She risked her life to buy him time.
No time to be moved. Chuck sprinted for the cave with everything he had.
Valentina disappeared. Chuck reached his maximum speed—the limit of his superhuman body.
Finally, light dimmed, air cooled. Chuck rushed into the narrow cave.
The injured, enraged tiger followed, its terrifying momentum closing the gap again. But the unfamiliar terrain and darkness allowed Chuck to pull ahead slightly.
Like Island Temple Run.
But Chuck's run had a finish line.
And it was close.
Near the exit, Valentina was already on the raft, reaching out her hand.
"Quick! Faster!!"
Fighting the sea breeze, Chuck sprinted toward the exit.
Just as the finish line was in sight, just as days of effort were about to pay off...
The world spun.
A strange coldness spread across his back. Valentina's terrified scream echoed, sounding muffled and distant as if underwater.
Thud.
He fell heavily onto the sand, head impacting the ground. Vision went black; ears rang sharply.
Behind him, a low, terrifying growl like a motorcycle engine.
Severe injury drained his stamina in two seconds. Losing all resistance, he lay prone on the sand, falling into a coma.
Seeing this, Valentina trembled violently. Concern for Chuck overpowered her fear of death. She jumped off the raft, rushing to shield Chuck with her body.
The tiger, chasing Chuck to the end, glared with its single crimson eye. Sharp teeth gnashed; its face twisted with hatred.
"I won't... let you die..."
Valentina glanced back. Facing unprecedented pressure and fear of death, she didn't retreat.
On the battlefield, fleeing superior firepower was wise. Sacrificing oneself for a trapped teammate was pointless.
But this time, Valentina decided to die.
"Come on! You damn beast!!!"
She clenched her fists, roaring at the tiger inside the cave.
Unarmed, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, yet unyielding.
But despite her resolve, the heavily injured tiger stopped at the edge of the cave exit, as if deterred by an invisible wall.
It stood there, covered in blood, growling at them with hideous hatred.
Valentina's fear turned to confusion. Then she turned, picked up the comatose Chuck, and ran to the raft!
Whatever stopped the tiger, she just needed to leave this hellhole with Chuck!
Placing Chuck on the raft, Valentina grabbed both paddles. She glanced one last time at the bloody tiger on the sand.
It remained at the cave edge, blocked by something unseen.
Valentina didn't hesitate. She paddled furiously, leaving the danger zone.
The single vertical pupil watched the raft disappear. Finally, the tiger turned and walked slowly out of the cave.
Two hours later.
Blood dripped from the lake to the jungle, through the cave, and back to the lake.
On the rock where Chuck first saw it, the giant tiger climbed up with its last strength, looking at the mangrove forest at the plain's end.
And the sun setting on the western horizon behind the mangroves.
Its remaining golden eye showed a trace of reluctance.
But finally, as its blood ran dry, the overlord of the plains closed its eye one last time under the 4 PM sun.
...
"...Chuck?"
Woken by shaking, Chuck lifted his heavy eyelids. Dark, damp stone floor filled his vision.
Instinctively trying to turn, hands pressed his shoulders down firmly.
"Hey! Don't move. Your back is injured."
A familiar voice calmed him. Turning his neck, he saw Valentina's face.
Seeing him lucid, she exhaled in relief and asked softly.
"Do you remember what happened?"
Chuck nodded.
"Where are we?"
"The southwest bay cave."
Valentina answered calmly, placing a palm leaf beside him.
Chuck saw wild fruits and an opened coconut.
But he had no appetite.
Frowning, he opened the workbench panel. Residual notifications appeared.
[Detected: Massive muscle tearing on host's back, multiple rib fractures, lung hemorrhage, spinal fissure. Injury severity: Critical.] [Exclusive Passive Effect: "Outer Steel, Inner Soft" temporarily disabled.] [Exclusive Passive Skill: "Outer Soft, Inner Steel" triggered!] [Passive Skill Complete. Due to excessive damage, only internal organs and bones were repaired. Muscle and skin trauma partially healed. Recovery: 52%. Stamina consumption: 99.1%.]
Feeling the burning swelling on his back, Chuck recalled the events before his coma. He looked at Valentina in disbelief.
"How did we escape?"