Chapter 130: Taking Them Down One by One [1]

"Ding! The location of the werewolf pack has been detected, 1,200 meters directly ahead. Please maintain stealth!"

Because he had to stop occasionally to allow the chip to meticulously analyze the surroundings and track the werewolf pack's position, Zhang Ran’s pace was not particularly fast. After a full half-hour, he had only moved about twenty kilometers from his original starting point. It was then that the chip’s prompt sounded in his ear once again.

"Finally found them! Let me see how many werewolves are in this pack and just how strong they are!"

Listening to the chip's notification, Zhang Ran slowed his movements, careful not to make a sound that might alert the distant werewolves. He crept forward slowly, observing the pack from afar.

About a kilometer away, there were roughly eighty werewolves huddled together in several large circles. In the center of each circle lay several slaughtered mutant beasts. The werewolves were carving up the meat, tearing into and swallowing the bloody chunks in their hands.

"Chip, scan their strength and compile statistics! Provide an additional analysis of the attributes for any werewolf at Level 4 or higher."

Watching the werewolves in the distance, Zhang Ran silently issued the command to the chip in his mind.

"Ding! Command received. Initiating scan..."

"Ding! Scan complete!"

Following Zhang Ran's order, the chip began scanning the pack. Ten seconds later, a silver light flashed before Zhang Ran's eyes, and a table appeared in his field of vision, listing the comprehensive data of the werewolves.

[Werewolf Pack Statistics]
[Level 4 Werewolves x3 (Power type x2, Psychic type x1)]
[Level 3 Werewolves x7 (Power type x5, Psychic type x2)]
...
[Level 4 Werewolf No. 1 (Power type) Attributes: Strength 9.7, Constitution 9.5, Agility 9.1, Spirit 8.7]
...

Gazing at the statistical table provided by the chip, a look of solemnity couldn't help but appear in Zhang Ran's eyes.

"Three Level 4 werewolves and seven Level 3 werewolves—the strength of this pack is truly formidable! Even with my current abilities, taking them down won't be easy. I must pick them off one by one!"

Observing the pack, Zhang Ran analyzed the situation calmly and silently formulated a strategy in his mind.

The presence of psychic types combined with combat types often produced an effect where "one plus one is greater than two," allowing them to fight above their weight class. A team consisting of three Level 4 and seven Level 3 werewolves could easily hunt down ordinary Level 5 mutant beasts, and with good coordination, they could even contend with Level 6 mutant beasts!

Zhang Ran currently lacked a suitable weapon, and his combat power was not at its peak. Confronting this pack head-on would not be a wise choice. Therefore, he did not act rashly, opting instead for a strategy of wit: to eliminate them one by one.

With a thought, the "Space Box" rune in Zhang Ran's sea of consciousness shimmered. The next moment, the MMT-Striker Type 2, which he had confiscated from Sadan, appeared in his hand.

As a rifle far more expensive than the AM41, the MMT-Striker Type 2's power justified its price. Its speed, precision, and destructive force far exceeded the AM41 automatic rifle. Even when used by an evolver without psionic field abilities, it was highly lethal against Level 2 or 3 mutant creatures. If paired with special ammunition, it could even severely wound or kill Level 4 mutant creatures.

Of course, due to its higher rate of fire and precision requirements, the MMT-Striker Type 2 did not use standard ammunition; it required premium, high-grade bullets made from rarer materials and finer craftsmanship. Each round cost two hundred Black Eagle Coins. If one chose special rounds like incendiary or armor-piercing bullets, the price was even higher.

Although Zhang Ran did not have enough funds to purchase special ammunition, he had confiscated fifty rounds of standard high-grade bullets suitable for the MMT-Striker Type 2 from Sadan, along with twenty armor-piercing rounds.

Lying down, Zhang Ran loaded five armor-piercing rounds into the magazine. He found a slightly elevated dirt mound, crouched down silently, set up his MMT-Striker Type 2, and slowly moved the muzzle to aim at the werewolf pack in the distance.

Among the pack were three Level 4 werewolves: the combat-type Werewolf Chieftain, the psychic-type Werewolf Shaman, and the combat-type Werewolf Great Elder.

For a species like the werewolves, even the psychic types did not have physical stats as ridiculously low as those of the Evil Eye monsters. Take the Werewolf Great Elder in this group, for instance: its Strength, Constitution, Agility, and Spirit attributes were 8.2, 8.4, 8.3, and 9.8 respectively, far exceeding the combat-type Level 3 werewolves.

According to the chip's analysis, even if Zhang Ran used an armor-piercing round, there was only a 12% chance of severely wounding or killing the Level 4 Werewolf Shaman with a single shot. Furthermore, there was nearly a 30% chance it would dodge the shot entirely. Consequently, Zhang Ran did not choose the Level 4 Shaman as his target, shifting his aim instead to a nearby Level 3 Werewolf Shaman.

"Bang!"

Framing the crosshairs over the head of the Level 3 Werewolf Shaman, Zhang Ran took a deep breath, steadied his heartbeat, and squeezed the trigger as he exhaled. With the report of the rifle, a bullet left the chamber, screaming toward the head of the distant Level 3 Werewolf Shaman.

Without waiting to see the result, Zhang Ran triggered a thought, and the MMT-Striker Type 2 vanished back into his Space Box. He immediately shifted his position, moving far away from the shooting site.

Half a second after Zhang Ran pulled the trigger, the bullet silently traversed the space and arrived right in front of the Level 3 Werewolf Shaman!

Faced with the sudden attack, the Level 3 Werewolf Shaman had no time to dodge and could only instinctively raise its claw to catch the projectile.

Although the Level 3 Werewolf Shaman's constitution was close to 6 points, it was no match for an armor-piercing round from an MMT-Striker Type 2. The bullet pierced right through, its immense kinetic energy creating a hole ten centimeters in diameter in the werewolf's palm. It nearly blew the hand apart, leaving it connected only by a thin strip of flesh and skin as blood poured out!

However, the werewolf's instinctive action saved its life. After piercing its right claw, the bullet's trajectory was altered, striking its shoulder instead of blowing its head off.

"Awoo!"

The bullet slammed into the Level 3 Werewolf Shaman's shoulder, shattering it and sending blood and bone fragments flying. In an instant, a fist-sized crater appeared on the werewolf's shoulder, and it let out a harrowing, agonizing howl!