"Energy-devouring water monkeys?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Feng couldn't help but feel surprised. He immediately took out another telescope and observed in the direction Xiao Xiao was pointing.
"Damn... they really are energy-devouring water monkeys~"
Seeing the creatures in the telescope's view, with their blood-red eyes, wet yellow fur, human-like but distorted and ferocious features, Ye Feng muttered.
"Big brother, those energy-devouring water monkeys look different from the ones we saw in Mech City..."
"They're holding various weapons... some even have guns... and even... a rocket launcher..."
At this moment, Xiao Xiao's surprised voice rang out.
"They must be the kind of energy-devouring water monkeys that Yun Yao mentioned, living in or having lived in war-torn areas," Ye Feng recalled Shen Yun Yao saying before. Energy-devouring water monkeys were very different from other monsters. They could learn to use human tools and imitate other animals. Those in war-torn areas could even use firearms.
While Ye Feng and Xiao Xiao were discussing, several energy-devouring water monkeys discovered them. However, they paid no attention, as the two were quite far away, about six to seven kilometers.
"Energy-devouring water monkeys seem to have a certain characteristic..."
Seeing these creatures again, Ye Feng remembered Shen Yun Yao's earlier words: energy-devouring water monkeys were extremely sensitive to the power of heaven and earth. It was when he used arcane energy tempered by absorbing the power of heaven and earth that he had driven the energy-devouring water monkeys into a frenzy.
With this thought, Ye Feng decided to test it. His gaze sharpened, and a faint white glow appeared on his right hand. This was the arcane energy, refined by absorbing the power of heaven and earth, that Shen Potian had spoken of—true power.
"Kacha~ Lu~!"
As soon as the true power appeared on Ye Feng's hand, the energy-devouring water monkeys reacted. Several sleeping ones suddenly opened their eyes, looking around with visible agitation. After a commotion, the distant horde of energy-devouring water monkeys all turned their gaze towards Ye Feng's direction.
"Hee hee hee~ Hee hee~ Hee hee~"
The energy-devouring water monkeys let out a sound like children's laughter, but sharp and terrifying, then lunged towards Ye Feng and the others.
"Damn, it's really like that~!"
Even though he had known it before, Ye Feng was quite surprised to witness it firsthand.
"Xiao Xiao, stay aside for a while. I'm going to spar with these energy-devouring water monkeys!"
Saying this, Ye Feng placed Xiao Xiao on a small inflatable boat and then charged directly towards the horde of energy-devouring water monkeys. Like in Mech City, the energy-devouring water monkeys ran towards Ye Feng rapidly, their bodies constantly changing. Their already large forms grew even bigger, their muscles bulged, and some became as large as elephants walking upright. As they ran, they created large puddles in the swamp, splashing water everywhere.
Before long, Ye Feng and the horde of energy-devouring water monkeys encountered each other.
"Boom!~"
Without any arcane energy or true power, Ye Feng directly engaged in a head-on collision with a muscular energy-devouring water monkey. As expected, Ye Feng was sent flying, tumbling into the muddy swamp. Seeing this, Xiao Xiao frowned slightly, an AK-47 already appearing in her hand, ready to provide support.
"What the hell..."
Ye Feng climbed out of the muddy swamp with some frustration. He hadn't been injured in the previous collision. However, this reminded him of a rather inconvenient fact: it was difficult for him to exert force in this muddy swamp. When he tried to stomp his foot, his whole body would sink into the mud, while the giant energy-devouring water monkeys stood their ground firmly.
"Hee hee!~ Hee~"
While Ye Feng was contemplating, two energy-devouring water monkeys cried out simultaneously and lunged at Ye Feng with their pitch-black claws.
"Whoosh~ Whoosh~! Zzra~"
Two ripping sounds echoed, and Ye Feng's clothes were instantly torn in several places. The skin grazed by the black claws burned intensely.
"That was close... I can't be too careless~" Ye Feng muttered. He remembered that the black claws of the energy-devouring water monkeys could easily smash large stones. Unable to exert force in the swamp, Ye Feng simply jumped onto the back of a giant energy-devouring water monkey and began to fight.
"Boom~ Kaka~"
"Hee hee~ Ga~ La~"
"Dada da~!"
"Wu~!"
...
With his agile footwork, Ye Feng continuously leaped between the energy-devouring water monkeys, counterattacking their various assaults. For a time, the swamp was filled with the roars and screams of the energy-devouring water monkeys, interspersed with intermittent gunfire. A small energy-devouring water monkey wielding an AK-47 had fired at Ye Feng. The bullets missed Ye Feng but struck another energy-devouring water monkey on its back, eliciting a scream and angry roars.
"Whoosh~ Whoo!"
"Boom~ Rumble!~"
At this moment, a loud explosion sounded as an energy-devouring water monkey fired its rocket launcher. Ye Feng dodged quickly. The energy-devouring water monkey he had been standing on a moment ago was hit in the back of the head by the rocket, exploding into a large cloud of blood mist before slowly falling into the swamp.
In the distance, on a somewhat dilapidated inflatable boat, someone was watching the scene through binoculars.
"Holy crap, who's this lunatic? Why is he provoking the energy-devouring water monkey horde?"
"Exactly, he's fighting the horde bare-handed. Is he crazy?"
"Look, that horde of energy-devouring water monkeys seems a bit off. The full moon is still a day away, but they seem to have gone berserk prematurely?!"
"Ye... yes, it seems so..."
"That guy is quite skilled... could it be... someone hired to help us deal with the energy-devouring water monkeys?"
"Don't even think about it. We don't have the money to hire anyone to deal with the energy-devouring water monkeys!"
"Quick, while the energy-devouring water monkeys are drawn away, let's go gather herbs..."
...
After a flurry of discussion on the inflatable boat, the people quickly paddled towards the depths of the swamp.
Meanwhile, on Ye Feng's side,
"Boom!~"
With a dull thud, Ye Feng once again fell into the swamp. At this moment, Ye Feng looked astonished because he found that an energy-devouring water monkey was standing steadily on the water.
"Is it because of water-attribute arcane energy?"
Sensing the fluctuations emanating from the energy-devouring water monkey, Ye Feng began to understand.
"Hee hee!~ Hee hee hee~"
At this moment, the horde of energy-devouring water monkeys once again attacked Ye Feng, with the one that could stand on water charging at the forefront. Ye Feng did not dodge or evade, meeting it head-on.
"Boom!~ Boom boom!~"
"Kacha~ Hee hee hee!~"
"Lu~ Hu la la!~"
...
Immediately, a series of thuds, sharp cries from the energy-devouring water monkeys, and splashing sounds erupted.
"Dada da!~"
After a burst of gunfire, Ye Feng once again fell into the muddy swamp.
"This is really troublesome..." Ye Feng felt somewhat depressed, as this muddy swamp was truly not suitable for his combat.
"If only I could master water-attribute arcane energy transformations..." Looking at the energy-devouring water monkey standing steadily on the water, Ye Feng muttered and charged forward again.
...