บท 84: CHAPTER 84

The giant lizard scraped the ground with its sharp black spiked claws, leaving deep scratches on the ground, showcasing the sharpness of its claws.

The massive head of the giant lizard lunged toward Rhodes and Hela, causing the ground to tremble under its weight.

Rhodes shook his head with a hint of resignation.

"Well, a beast is a beast. I'm not sure how to deal with this. If you're eager to meet your end, I can assist."

Rhodes appeared prepared to confront the giant lizard.

Suddenly, dozens of thick vines sprouted from the giant lizard's feet. These vines seemed to have a mind of their own as they tightly ensnared the thick limbs of the giant lizard.

The giant lizard's eyes reflected sheer terror, showing that it had no idea what had attacked it.

While the vines were relatively small compared to the giant lizard's size, they possessed remarkable strength. They held the giant lizard firmly to the ground.

The lizard emitted a despairing roar, but it could do nothing but lie helplessly on the ground.

Then, several powerful gusts of wind sliced through the air, cutting open the tough scales on the giant lizard. Several large gashes, each four to five meters long, appeared, releasing a torrent of blood that stained the nearby ground.

Hela was somewhat perplexed. She was familiar with Rhodes' typical fighting style, and this approach seemed unusual. Creatures of this caliber would usually be reduced to fertilizer by his mere presence. Such a complex strategy appeared unnecessary.

Rhodes, too, was puzzled by the change in events.

"I didn't do it; I haven't even done anything yet."

"You didn't?"

Rhodes hadn't taken action, so who could be responsible?

Rhodes and Hela harbored doubts, but these doubts were soon dispelled.

The giant lizard's limbs were ensnared by the vines, which featured sharp spikes and seemed to carry nerve-paralyzing toxins. These toxins penetrated the lizard's skin via the spikes, even breaching the reptile's formidable scales.

As a result, the lizard's movements became sluggish due to the neurotoxins, and it could only lie on the ground, struggling to breathe. It appeared resigned to its fate.

From the nearby mountain forest, people clad in colorful outfits emerged, seemingly fashioned from natural animal skins and sturdy leaves. Although they had a wild aesthetic, their primitive imitative technology showed issues in clothing details.

These individuals—seven men and three women—had long hair, paint-covered bodies of unknown origin, animal skin boots, and weapons crafted from stone-like materials. While their weapons seemed relatively rudimentary, they were sufficient for hunting creatures of this size.

This group exhibited varying levels of superpowers, some wielding control over plants to attack. The woman with green hair, who used vines to entangle the giant lizard and release neurotoxins, was among them. Another possessed incredible strength, as demonstrated when he killed the subdued lizard with a single punch.

Rhodes found it curious that these seemingly primitive people had superpowers. Their powers appeared to be self-awakened, as if their genes were inherently special, granting some of them various abilities. This possibility intrigued Rhodes.

His observations revealed that the superpowers of these people, while stronger than those of ordinary individuals, did not place them in the same league as powerful beings across the universe, such as the Asgardian warriors, superheroes from Earth, or the Lord God Legion from Asgard. Their abilities were more akin to what ordinary people might consider superhuman.

Rhodes hypothesized that these people might be a superpowered race that awakened abilities through genetic factors. However, he remained curious about the origins of their powers. Was it genetic, cosmic radiation-induced mutations, or a connection to the Infinity Stones? He couldn't be sure.

After the giant lizard's defeat, the superhuman primitives turned their attention to Rhodes and Hela. Laura, the woman with plant-manipulating powers, approached them.

"Are you alright? Are you injured?"

Meanwhile, the strong man with extraordinary strength observed Rhodes and Hela cautiously, reflecting his wariness.

"Lola, be careful," Laura cautioned.

"It's fine; they are not hostile," Laura assured, introducing herself as the princess of Vulcan.

"I'm Laura, the princess of Vulcan. What are your names, and why are you here in the Beast Forest? This is the most perilous area on Vulcan. Are you lost?"

Rhodes acknowledged, "We're travelers and happened to cross paths with this monster. Thank you for your help."

Laura warmly responded, "You're welcome. It's only natural. This creature, known as the Ground Claw Lizard outside of Vulcan, possesses highly venomous teeth and claws. Being caught by it is no joke."

Laura quirked a smile as she appreciated the princess's hospitality.

Rhodes queried, "It's a pity that we haven't completed our mission for today. We need to capture enough prey before we return. To ensure your safety, please join us, and we'll go back to the Vulcan Empire together."

He assured them, "We'll keep you safe."

Hela then declared, "Since we are your guests, we are willing to contribute to the hunt and show our gratitude."

Laura inquired, "Are you strong? Do you have superpowers?"

Rhodes and Hela exchanged a knowing look and didn't answer.

Laura was intrigued and asked again, "Do you possess superpowers?"

Without a word, Rhodes astounded them all with a demonstration of his extraordinary abilities. In an instant, he summoned a multitude of animals from thin air. These creatures materialized from a spatial portal, falling from a height of more than ten meters before him.

As the animals landed, Laura and her companions were terrified. However, Rhodes immediately eliminated them, processing their meat efficiently. His speed was astonishing, surpassing that of an industrial meat processing facility.

Rhodes then gestured to the large pile of meat before them, saying, "These should be enough."

Laura opened her eyes wide in astonishment, struggling to comprehend the extent of Rhodes's power.

The primitive tribe gathered around the bounty of meat, stunned by what they had witnessed.

Laura's hospitality and inquisitiveness persisted.

She questioned, "Are you not from Vulcan?"

Rhodes confirmed, "You're correct. We're not from Vulcan; we come from another galaxy, a place called Asgard. We are members of the Asgardian race. My name is Rhodes, and this is my wife, Hela."

Laura continued to inquire, "Why are you here? How did you end up in the Beast Forest, the most dangerous area on Vulcan?"

Rhodes clarified, "We're travelers and came here for the scenery. We admired the beauty of Vulcan and wanted to experience it for ourselves. We bear no ill intentions. Please understand."

Laura appreciated Rhodes's explanation, allowing her to relax.

Laura then extended her warm hospitality, offering to host them.

"As guests from afar, you must join us. We are the Royal Hunting Group of the Vulcan Empire, responsible for procuring food for our people. We hunt to ensure the Empire has enough to eat. Since you are our guests, it's only fitting that you join us. Together, we'll hunt and then return to the Vulcan Empire."

Rhodes voiced his respect and willingness to participate in the hunt as a gesture of gratitude for their hospitality.

Rhodes's incredible powers astounded Laura and her companions. They marveled at his ability to provide for their hunt in a manner they had never witnessed before.

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