As the all-terrain vehicles started closing in on the herd, the guide shouted instructions into the walkie-talkie again.
"Use the fresh meat to lure them into smaller groups, then lead them back to their enclosures. Get ready the tranquilizers in case they attack."
"We have to go after the man in black!" Xiao Ming protested.
The guide wiped away the beads of sweat that had gathered on the tip of his nose.
"Mr. Xiao, these animals are my priority," he responded nervously.
This was an excuse. The guide had seen what the man in black was capable of doing. He had no interest in going after someone who could single-handedly vanquish a ma.s.sive herd of carnivores.
Xiao Ming furrowed his brow. Due to the situation at home, he knew he had to pursue the man, even if it was dangerous. This was his opportunity.
"You can stay here and herd the animals if you"re afraid. I"ll lead my people after him," he stated, a steely determination in his voice.
The black man was full of glee.
Gusts of air waves were released from his bare back, propelling him far even when he made small steps.
He could not help grinning at the serval cat. It was barely conscious and unable to retaliate.
"Being able to control animals ain"t a bad gift," he thought, "Seems like its powers can"t be used on humans. It would"ve controlled me if it could. I guess it can"t affect supercats either."
He wriggled his bare bottom happily as he leaped through the air, relis.h.i.+ng the cool wind fluttering against his skin.
Air currents were radiating off every inch of his skin. This was the power that he had borrowed. He could manipulate the currents to produce winds of all kinds, from gentle breezes to destructive vortexes.
The only downside to this power was the fact that it was strongest when he was naked. A layer of clothes would obstruct the force of the airwaves from the skin it covered.
He noticed that he could manipulate the currents better when he was fighting off the herd without his shorts and tank top. Now, he was enjoying the freedom that the lack of clothes afforded. He loved the cool air that greeted him with every move he made.
"I am stronger, and I feel good. This is perfect," he sighed, contented.
He was soon at the edge of the zoo. Just as he was about to cross the gates, a woman"s voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Don"t move!"
The man spun around.
Before him stood a young woman. A pair of black rim gla.s.ses were perched on her nose. There was still a hint of baby fat in her cheeks. She did not look dangerous, but she was pointing a long rifle at him.
"Let the cat go," she demanded.
Her words were firm, but there was a tremor in her voice.
"Oh?" the man mocked, checking out the woman"s uniform, "You must be one of the animal feeders here. You sure take your job seriously. But let me ask you this - Is it worth being hurt or injured just to be a dutiful zookeeper?"
The woman s.h.i.+vered involuntarily from the threat.
She did not answer, not out of fear, but from embarra.s.sment.
"Pervert! Why don"t you have clothes on?!"
Her blush was close to the shade of a tomato.
The man was unabashed. In fact, he stood up even straighter, puffing out his bare chest.
"Pervert? How is being at my most natural being a pervert? This is freedom. It is returning to the form that we were originally created. This is a homage to nature"s wonder!" he reasoned pa.s.sionately.
He turned to the woman with a disapproving shake of his head.
"It"s people like you," he pointed at her for dramatic emphasis, "Who are perverts. You allow yourself to bound by society"s ridiculous rules. That"s true perversion."
The corners of the woman"s lips twitched. She shot him a death glare.
"Disgusting pervert."
"Oh, whatever. Conservatives like you would never understand me. By the way, you"re this cat"s apostle, right?"
She did not answer. However, there was no need for her to say a word. The slight contraction of her pupils betrayed her surprise.
"Heh, guess I"m right," the man in black chuckled.
She had to be its apostle. Why else would she risk her safety to go after them?
Sensing that the man was about to take off, the woman clutched the rifle tightly, shouting, "Don"t move! I"ll shoot you! I really will."
The man was unfazed. He sauntered towards the woman, sneering.
"You sure about that?" he mocked, "Why don"t you come with me instead? You"re an apostle. You have potential."
"Stop moving!"
The man continued inching closer.
"I"m gonna shoot!"
"I said stop!"
Bang!
The moment the rifle was sounded, a whirling ma.s.s of wind was sent forth from the man"s body. The whirlwind protected him from a tranquilizer dart, which was drawn into its center.
"Seriously, girl? That"s all you got?" he laughed.
The woman was not holding a rifle loaded with bullets. It had been a tranquilizer gun, which was nowhere as lethal. Even if she did manage to hit her target, these darts still needed minutes to take effect. They were pretty much useless in this scenario.
As the whirlwind continued to gain momentum, the black man sprung forward, grabbed the young woman and threw her over his shoulder.
Just then, the serval wriggled out of his grip and tried to sink its teeth into the side of his neck.
The sharp snap of its jaw was followed by a splatter of blood. The bite could have been more deadly if not for the man"s quick reflexes. He launched an airwave in the serval"s direction just as its pointy teeth scratched the surface of his skin, barely breaking it. The cat was sent spinning to the ground with a loud thud.
"Let us go!" the young woman screamed, punching and kicking, "I"ve called the cops! You can"t get away!"
All the man did was laugh.
"Girl, the police have got nothing on me. You"ve got to stop fighting me. Once you meet my boss, you"ll understand that I"m actually giving you the best opportunity of your life. You can get away from this dead-end job and join me in living freely."
The serval was using the little strength it had to escape, but it could hardly lift its limbs. It had been smashed to the ground twice in a row now and was a bit concussed.
As the black man approached it, a meow rang clearly through the air.
It took less than half a second for the sound to be registered in the man"s mind.
That was all it took for the serval to disappear.
"What…?" the man shot forward to where the cat had been.
It was gone.
"Who"s there?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
The only response he received was the whoos.h.i.+ng of the night breeze.
The quiet night was broken by the sound of cars approaching in the distance. The man looked up to see the flicker of headlights. He scrunched his eyebrows together.
Where was the serval?
He would never be able to find it because it was now safely hidden in Elizabeth"s bubble of illusion.
Zhao Yao put his finger to his lips, warning the serval to stay quiet.
Xiao Ming"s men were close. Zhao Yao did not want anyone to know that he was here.
Most of all, he did not want to be caught in someone"s live stream.
He had actually discovered the showdown between the animals and the men in black way before Xiao Ming did.
He observed quietly, unable to take action because he had no clue where the supercat was.
He followed them here and struck when an opportunity presented itself.
His and Elizabeth"s timing was impeccable. The serval was in their hands, and no one knew that this was his doing.
Zhao Yao studied the concussed cat that was cradled in his arms.
"Hmm...is this a mountain cat? Or one of those desert wildcats? I didn"t know these kinds could be awakened as well," he pondered.
As he hurried out of the zoo, the serval forced its eyes open. It meowed to catch Zhao Yao"s attention.
"Save Liu Yun! Please, you"ve gotta save her!"
To Zhao Yao"s surprise, the serval had a sweet, girly voice that called out to him telepathically.
He cast a glance at the woman hanging from the man in black"s shoulder.
"Zhi Yun? Is she the one on his shoulders?" he asked.
The serval was stunned that a foreign voice was communicating with her in her own head.
She had questions, but she pushed them aside because there were more pressing matters at hand.
"Please, sir, please save her! You absolutely must save her!" she pleaded, kneading Zhao Yao"s forearm with her paws and pressing her head against his chest.
He furrowed his brow, uncertain. He wanted to help the cat and the woman, but Xiao Ming and the security team were already here. Worse, Jin Jia Jia was live-streaming everything.
He did not want to risk exposing himself on camera.
Elizabeth"s powers could only affect a person"s senses and perceptions. It could not change what the camera capt.u.r.ds.
He looked down at the serval, whose eyes were filled with helplessness and worry.
He let out a heavy sigh.