It did not take long—just about ten seconds—before Andrew spotted Chantelle. He also saw a massive black Dire Tiger, and the beast currently had someone clamped in its enormous jaws: it was Ralph.
Ralph was still gripping his curved blade, which had carved two gashes across the black tiger’s head, causing blood to stream down. However, it had no effect whatsoever. If anything, the attack had only enraged it more.
The giant jaws crushed down harder on Ralph’s shoulder, and in two powerful leaps, the Dire Tiger landed on the rooftop of a nearby stone building. At such close range, and in broad daylight, Andrew could see just how incredibly massive this beast truly was.
From an ecological standpoint, it made no sense. There was no way a beast of this size could naturally exist in these mountain forests, as it would need to devour a whole village's worth of prey just to survive.
However, this was not the time to question how a place like Gallow’s End could produce such a monster.
Ralph’s screams pierced the air, rising into a howl of raw agony. Even if they managed to save him, Andrew could already tell half his body was as good as lost.
And worse still, the so-called survival expert had taken a swipe across the face. One side of it was torn to shreds, the flesh peeled back so far that Andrew could see raw gums and exposed red muscle.
With every ragged breath, blood gushed out from the gaps in his face like a gruesome fountain.
Chantelle had collapsed to the ground, scrambling backward, trembling all over. Only when Andrew reached her did she manage to rise.
“Mr. Lloyd, please save him, you have to save him! That Dire Tiger came out of nowhere, and he had no warning at all! Mr. Sutton, just hold on—we’re coming for you.”
Her voice had become completely incoherent and was now tinged with sobs.
Andrew glanced at her and noticed that this government insider actually had tears in her eyes. She was scared out of her mind.
“Hey, you brainless beast, you black devil, over here—come at me!”
Logan had rushed over from a distance, shouting and waving his arms frantically. Meanwhile, Tiana was fierce as always, holding a Patoajo musket and aiming it at the black Dire Tiger.
Andrew quickly raised his hand. “Mrs. Rhodes, don’t shoot! At this distance, you won’t be able to kill this beast. You’ll just startle it instead, and then Ralph will definitely die.”
Lowering her musket, Tiana snapped angrily, “What do you suggest we do?”
Andrew signaled to Logan. “Keep provoking it and drawing its attention.”
As he spoke, he crouched low and began stealthily approaching the stone building. If he could get close enough for an attack, his hunting knife would be sufficient to split this beast’s skull wide open.
Logan continued waving his arms and cursing nonstop. “Black freak! You big, ugly bastard—come on over here if you’ve got the guts! You think you’re tough? Come over here and let me skin you alive, you damn beast!”
While shouting, he also banged his weapon against the surrounding stones.
Sure enough, the Dire Tiger turned its attention. Its face twisted into a snarl, teeth flashing as it began prowling toward Logan, one slow step at a time.
Andrew had already reached the base of the stone building and could not help but feel pleased at the sight. He easily scaled the three-story stone structure, as silent as a ghost.