"You two can't take its hits. Get behind me." Yang Bin said to Skinny Monkey and Lin Yifei.
This tiger's raw strength had definitely surpassed ten thousand kilograms.
So far, only Zhong Yuansen had tanked three direct strikes thanks to Earth Armor's defense-and even he was already severely injured.
Chen Hao had taken one tail swipe and one paw strike. The tail was manageable, nothing too outrageous. But that paw had nearly killed him. He'd collapsed and couldn't get up for a long time. Even now he hadn't recovered, barely maintaining Invisibility while hiding somewhere to heal.
Setting abilities aside, Chen Hao was the strongest fighter after Yang Bin.
He'd been the second to advance to the Yaoguang Realm, and had consumed two additional Tier-6 Crystals on top of that. His raw power already approached Tier-6 Peak.
Yet even that wasn't enough to withstand the Mutant Tiger's paw. Skinny Monkey and Lin Yifei? One hit would likely finish them.
At this point, the only one who could still take a blow was Yang Bin.
His strength was close to eight thousand. A significant gap remained between him and the tiger, but not so much that a single strike would end him.
Still, his left arm's bones were shattered. That arm was done. Only his right could still move.
Lin Yifei and Skinny Monkey understood the situation. They didn't argue, quickly falling back behind Yang Bin to play support.
Zhong Yuansen layered on another coat of Earth Armor and held his ground.
His injuries were severe, but Earth Armor absorbed most of the impact. He figured he could take one more.
He'd already eaten several hits. He knew what to expect.
Yang Bin glanced at Zhong Yuansen and ultimately didn't order him back. He genuinely needed someone sharing the frontline. Alone, he couldn't hold.
The Mutant Tiger watched them coldly, advancing step by step.
Blood still flowed steadily from the wound on its neck, bringing waves of dizziness.
But it ignored the sensation. The tiger understood clearly-if it devoured these humans, its strength would surge dramatically. Forget Tier 8; Tier-7 Peak was guaranteed.
As the tiger closed in, Yang Bin led the group backward, matching its pace. No sudden moves.
His only goal was to stall. Every second that passed tilted the odds further in their favor.
In the end, the Mutant Tiger's patience broke first. It lunged at the group.
Water Wave and ice erupted almost simultaneously-Lin Yifei's signature combo, deployed the instant the tiger committed.
Mid-pounce, the tiger had no way to dodge. It froze solid.
But only for a heartbeat before it shattered free.
In that heartbeat, a massive rock hurtled toward the tiger's skull. Simultaneously, a military combat knife shot toward the neck wound with blinding speed.
Boom.
The iron-skulled tiger smashed the rock to pieces on impact. But that split-second obstruction was enough-the combat knife plunged into the wound, burying itself more than halfway to the hilt.
"ROAR-"
The tiger bellowed in fury, its front paw swinging straight at Yang Bin.
Yang Bin's instinct screamed teleport. Then he remembered the two people directly behind him. No choice. He gritted his teeth and threw his right arm up to block.
Boom.
CRACK.
Bone snapped. Yang Bin's right arm broke, and his body launched backward through the air.
In that same instant, Zhong Yuansen lunged forward. He grabbed the combat knife jutting from the tiger's neck and wrenched it sideways with everything he had.
"ROAR-!"
The tiger screamed. One claw sent Zhong Yuansen flying.
"Pfft-"
Zhong Yuansen coughed up a spray of blood and hit the ground. He didn't get back up.
Skinny Monkey seized the opening. Wind Blade after Wind Blade sliced into the gaping wound, carving it wider.
Blood erupted in a pressurized spray.
"ROAR-"
The tiger roared and pounced, slamming Skinny Monkey flat against the ground. Its jaws yawned open-a cavern of teeth descending toward his skull.
Skinny Monkey watched that maw grow larger and larger. Despair flickered through him.
But he didn't accept it.
His eyes locked onto the tiger's. Beast Taming surged to its absolute limit.
Maybe it was the proximity. Maybe it was the tiger's weakened state. Just as those razor fangs were about to close on his head-they stopped.
Confusion clouded the tiger's eyes.
BOOM.
A car slammed into the Mutant Tiger from the side, hurling it off Skinny Monkey and sending it tumbling.
Yang Bin. Even now, he'd come through. But the state of him-both arms dangling limp and useless at his sides, his entire body painted in blood.
Skinny Monkey scrambled to his feet and sprinted behind Yang Bin.
Lin Yifei rushed to Yang Bin's side. Just the three of them now.
Lin Yifei shoved several crystals into her mouth. Freezing the Mutant Tiger demanded enormous Mental Energy.
So many consecutive freezes had drained her completely dry. Her face was chalk-white.
"Give me a few," Yang Bin said.
That last telekinetic throw had emptied his reserves too. Both arms were wrecked-he couldn't even reach into a pocket.
Lin Yifei quickly pressed her remaining Tier-4 Crystals into Yang Bin's mouth.
"Brother Bin," Skinny Monkey whispered urgently beside his ear. "I think I can control it."
"You sure?" Yang Bin's eyes snapped to him.
"Yeah. But it needs to be half-dead first. I have to hit it when its willpower is at its lowest."
"......"
"That's... a tall order." Yang Bin's voice was flat. Resigned.
Their condition was abysmal. Whether they'd even survive was an open question.
The Mutant Tiger staggered upright.
Yang Bin's car strike had driven the combat knife even deeper. The blade now sat buried in the depths of its neck, and the tiger's condition was deteriorating fast.
Fury blazed in its eyes-but panic lurked beneath.
It hadn't expected a handful of Tier-6 humans to wound it this badly.
Injuries like these... if it didn't retreat and recover soon, it could die.
But after fighting this hard, how could it just walk away?
It saw the humans' condition-just as wretched as its own.
The tiger made its choice. It charged again.
Yang Bin and Lin Yifei's Mental Energy was still bottomed out. Skinny Monkey's Wind Blades couldn't slow the tiger's advance.
The Mutant Tiger closed the distance. Seconds from impact.
Then a fireball streaked in from the side and detonated against the tiger's flank.
The damage was negligible. But fire was fire-instinct overrode aggression, and the tiger skidded to a halt.
Then came the others. The group that had been recovering in the distance was closing in from all sides.
The Mutant Tiger's eyes narrowed. It grew cautious.
"You guys recovered?" Skinny Monkey's face lit up.
"Look at the state of things over here-recovered or not, we had to come." Zhao Kun said, shaking his head.
Physical exhaustion didn't just vanish. But people were about to die. Staying back wasn't an option.
"Our stamina's still shot," Fang Sijie said, "but we burned through a bunch of crystals just now. Mental Energy's back to workable levels. We can use our abilities."
"Good." Yang Bin allowed himself a grin. "You got here just in time."
A warm glow descended over him. The shattered bones in his arms began knitting together at visible speed.
Yang Bin felt the fractures mending and relief washed across his face.
Hu Wenliang's healing. Absolutely invaluable.