[Last Emperor] Chapter 19 - HellHounds?! (Patreon)

In the end, Tao Zi decided to just go through with his original plan. Regardless of whether there would still be a chimp camp still in existence or not. The Hellhound would hopefully either be killed, destroying much of the camp, or be injured enough that Tao Zi could step in and finish it off himself.

He had considered attempting to draw out a portion of the camp to make the process easier for the HellHound, but was quick to throw the idea out. Tao Zi would not risk an army of chimps entrapping him or a party of orcs wanting to find what the noise was.

The notification he received during the first time he learned he could use the HellHound to level up had shown him two orcs dead. It wasn't just a single Zarfu that was in the forest, searching for him, considering he never received a message from the system that the first orc he ever got to witness was not alive anymore. Slain by the HellHound during their encounter.

A shiver went down his back and head throbbed at the thought of Zarfu searching for him now.

No more time for bullshiting, Tao Zi! It's time for action.

Tao Zi pulled out two unsoiled spears and prepared them to the side. He then got his mentals all ready for what he was about to do and the havoc he was about to cause. The new plan had only a small difference and was simple enough. The goal was to throw the spears, including the one with the filthy clothes wrapped around it, in as short of a time as possible. Targeting the three high calibre chimps in hope he hit one of them.

He would not wait any longer. Pulling out the final spear. Not waiting even a second between lighting it up with his blue flames and launching it at the chief. Tao Zi did not look to see if he had hit the chimp or not. Setting the other two on fire, without any clothes on them, and throwing them as hard and as accurate as he could.

Tao Zi ducked into the brush hoping the chimps had not seen him.

Shouting and screaming sounded out from the camp. Painful cries were heard by Tao Zi. Hundreds of chimps began to shift back and forth as something happened underneath him. Hooting, yelling, and everything else that constituted a language were shouted at the top of their lungs.

Waiting where he was would have been a foolish game to play.

He crawled away from the edge of the cliff and getting dirt all over his robes and pants in the process. It was a sacrifice he was willing to make. Plus, a little mud or dirt could always be washed away. The black sludge, in comparison, could not nor would he do it if it was possible. Just the thought of it made him gag in reflex—

Tao Zi stopped moving as soon as he started to tense his muscles to bolt himself through the forest as fast as his newly enhanced body could take him. Hoping his unfamiliarity would not cause him to slam into any trees and let the entire forest know where he was.

Listening only proved why he was so careful.

The goblin camp no longer screamed and hooted. Dead silence filled the entire forest around him even with hundreds of monsters below. There wasn't even a single sound. No fighting or shouting. The rudimentary language the chimps used was currently not being used at all.

An urge to go back and see what the hell was going on overcame him.

He couldn't help it.

Something was very wrong and he needed to see what that was. He pushed through the brushery, not thinking about the noise he made. Tao Zi felt the chill in his back increase the closer he got. Until he was at the edge once more.

Tao Zi stared as two HellHounds circled the chimp camp. The goblin, all three hundred and some, huddled together with their weapons pointed out and prepared for battle. The chief held up the spear with the filthy clothes as though it was their banner. One of the two shaman's was being tended to with a spear sticking out of their back.

Both HellHounds growled like rumbling motors the size of air carriers. He could feel it in his chest even from a distance. They seemed to eye each other more than they were worried about dealing with the chimps. Carefully keeping a respectful distance and never giving their back to the other.

He could not spot a difference between them from his vantage point even with their large size. He had no clue whether it was the first or the second that had been hunting him. Or if it was both and he just had no clue.

Fuck. What do I do now? Should I even stay around to pick off the chimps running away or do I just go back to the cave? What the hell do I do now?

It seemed like every time he made a plan, something complicated it. Nothing would go the way he imagined it, not even when he prepared himself for any realistic outcome. What the hell was he supposed to do with two HellHounds roaming the forest when one was enough to cause him so much worry already. This wasn't some anime or novel. This was real life. He couldn't suddenly jump up and fight opponents more than a major realm stronger than he was.

A realm and some considering each stage in the Qi Gathering Journeyman was greater than the one before it. An entire chasm between them compared to what an Initiate would ever have to deal with. At least that was what he had been told.

Not that he listened to much of what his sect elders had tried to carve into his brain.

One of the HellHounds lunged forward, snagging a chimp quicker than the group could react. Snapping it half and starting to munch on it. Tao Zi could hear the crunching of bone and sloshing of blood and guts all the way up on the cliff. He couldn't help but stare in morbid astonishment as the beast busied itself with its meal, snapping and clawing at the other one to keep its food.

The other one was not to be out done. It charged the crowd of chimps, slamming into them. It clawed and snapped into them. Their makeshift spears glanced off its scales unable to harm it. The chief charged its position, but was far too late. It continued until it got one into its maws and jumped back. It held up its prize into the air. Clearly enjoying the chimp scramble and fight while clutched by its jaws.

He watched as the chief considered continuing its charge and out of the containment of its group, eventually deciding better of its previous plan. It turned and shouted at the standing shaman by its side. Pushing it forward to do something, anything at all to fix this situation.

Tao Zi doubted they would be able to save themselves without significant losses.

One Hellhound, they had a chance, and most likely would survive as a greater whole. Two seemed like too much stacked against their odds.

He could only hope they were strong enough as a force to at least kill one of the HellHounds. Having to deal with more than that seemed like too much for him currently. He wasn't sure if he would be able to beat it even if he did cross into the Journeyman Stage.

But he knew one immutable truth.

Tao Zi would become stronger. It was only a matter of time and pushing himself to continue his growth. He just needed to survive long enough until that happened. Not put himself in unnecessarily dangerous situations he would need to get lucky to escape. Like the Zarfu incident.

Until then, he would be careful.