Tear A Path 18 Eaten Alive

Though the reptiles were bipedal, it would be anyone's mistake to think they couldn't run on all fours. In fact the shorter forelimbs helped them push off from the fence like roots and jump vertically on the barks of trees to launch attacks. This combined with their sleek and flexible bodies propelled them like fish in water in this jungle, unhindered by it's flora which was like a trap to everything else.

Evidently, Zhao Wei hadn't taken ten steps before he had to duck. Above him two rows of teeth had snapped shut where his head used to be. Even the sound sent his ears ringing and it would've taken the ears and skin from his skull at minimum if it so much as grazed him.

He spun close to the ground, thrusting his spear upward in hopes of catching this slippery beast off guard. But it was for naught as it had already propelled itself towards another tree where it's claws sunk in almost immediately, allowing it to scramble to a higher vantage point.

Zhao Wei was lucky in his turn as it had allowed him to spot its companion running close to the ground to go for his legs. Raising his legs just in time to catch it in the snout just before it opened its mouth.

Nothing had happened to it, merely an itch in its nose which it sneezed away, Zhao Wei on the other hand was thrown up in the air by the combined force of his kick and the reptile rush. Just missing a reptile mounting him as the other one had jumped back again.

He back-rolled a few times before being stopped with a tree to his back, scrambling up to start his run again.

The two didn't even give him time to catch his breathe as they both sprinted while weaving left and right, over and under each other in an attempt to confuse Zhao Wei.

Through all this, the biggest one hadn't made a single move just stepping one foot at a time, making sure to keep a view of the killing as well as making some rattling with its throat, to which the smaller ones would react.

Zhao Wei was in their zone, he couldn't even run fast enough to avoid the chase. One of the two leapt up at him, propping it's leg up on his chest while it's mouth aimed for his neck. He on the other hand had put the spear between his body and it's powerful legs, barely stopping his organs from turning into mulch from the impact.

Both tumbled down a slope which actually stopped its teeth from completely sinking into him. As they flew they pushed against some bushes and low hanging branches. One in particular snapped back into place instead of breaking of, slapping the other one mid jump.

As they landed, the beast jumped off, landing a few meters away while Zhao Wei had the wind knocked out of him as he sprawled on the ground.

It's teeth had barely broken the skin on his shoulders just under his collar but it was feeling numb and sluggish. This was probably what happened to the boar like beast before. Their bites had a paralytic effect and probably clotted the blood minimizing the chance of its prey bleeding to death and yet making sure it couldn't run anywhere.

Although the boar beast was majestic and ferocious, these sinister creations would run circles around it, taking bites here and there, letting its toxins sink in, almost toying with this overwhelmingly powerful creature. By the end it couldn't even die and it could only live as fresh meat for these devious little beings, probably feeling as they ate it inside out. In it's eyes, the strike from Zhao Wei was a mercy killing to finally end it's torment.

Both reptiles circled Zhao Wei, there were only two possible reasons for this. Either they had thought their prey was harder to eat than they had first considered and were regrouping, or they had thought the paralyzing toxin in their teeth had entered deeply and they were just waiting for him to get weaker and weaker so they could take him easily.

Either way, this gave Zhao Wei sometime to plan. He did not pick himself up as it would alert the reptiles that their toxins weren't in play yet. He reviewed their fight in his mind a little over three times to see if he had missed anything which could possibly gain him an edge.

In these few seconds Zhao Wei searched profusely for a hint of anything that could help. He wasn't sure how much longer these reptiles would wait. At this moment, their leader had stepped into view, from the start until now it had been watching in the sidelines as it's underlings finished the work, but now it appeared as if it was here to swoop in for the credit.

An idea came to his mind. If they believed he was paralyzed and unable to move he might have a chance at a surprise attack. If he could take out the leader first, the underlings may lose their flawless teamwork or even run away in the best case scenario.

Man makes plans, but G.o.d destroys them. As Zhao Wei prepared for the surprise, his ffinger on his spear hand involuntarily twitched in antic.i.p.ation. This of course did not miss the eyes of the more observant leader who sounded out a rattle to one of it's underlings who was positioned closest to Zhao Wei.

Zhao Wei could only grit his teeth at his stupidity, lying low to still try and concoct a plan. It moved forward step by step, cautiously watching Zhao Wei for any reaction.

It did not have the simple minded greed in its eyes anymore, probably warned by its leader. When it was near Zhao Wei it circled to his right, walking next to his hand with the spear. Zhao Wei avoided doing anything as a surprise attack while it was cautious would just fail miserably. It used it's toe to flick away the spear which was within palms reach.

In his mind, Zhao Wei spit at all three in disdain. It closed in on Zhao Wei, it's snout right next to his ear. Opening its mouth it howled at Zhao Wei, his hair blowing in the other direction as spittle flew from between its teeth. He squinted and tried to keep himself from gagging.

Finally, something came to him. All this time he'd still been fighting like a normal human, like a rookie in a game, they tend to forget to use their supplementary skills which usually gave them the tactical advantage opting instead for the primary abilities.

It reached out towards Zhao Wei with its fore limb, claws dangling above Zhao Wei's torso. Just as it applied pressure and the flesh began to dip, right before the skin broke and blood dripped...Zhao Wei's eyes snapped open, the counterattack has come.