Jack, undeterred, yelled, "Focus on the body!" They adjusted their aim, sending a fresh volley of arrows toward the creature's vulnerable torso. The cat roared, its movements becoming more erratic and desperate.

Two more soldiers' ears bleed.

Chatty's anxiety was palpable as his ears buzzed incessantly. He swayed unsteadily until one of his comrades noticed and rushed to his aid. Draping Chatty's arm over his shoulder, he half-carried, half-dragged him to where the earlier injured soldier was recuperating.

The sight of the injured soldier turning blue and struggling to breathe was alarming. The soldier who brought Chatty grabbed a water bottle, splashing the wounded soldier's face to revive him. Meanwhile, Chatty, regaining a bit of his composure, retrieved portable oxygen from his space ring and administered it to the injured.

Seeing Chatty's condition, the other soldier signaled him to stay put, but Chatty gestured back that he couldn't hear. Using sign language, the Class A soldier communicated, ensuring Chatty understood. Then he hurried back to the fray, only to find two more soldiers unconscious, their ears bleeding. He carried them to Chatty and washed their faces with clean water.

Despite the continuous assault on the massive cat, its shrieks had diminished. Now wounded and with its tail swinging lethargically, releasing acidic fumes, the soldiers could only keep their distance.

Shun's gaze met Four Eyes', a silent exchange passing between them. Four Eyes nodded and looked at Jack, trying to convey a plan.

With a decisive flick of his sword, Four Eyes brought the massive cat to the ground, its body slumping heavily. Jack's jaw dropped in shock, but he quickly recovered, watching as Shun charged with his sword. The others followed, striking in unison.

Finally, with one last coordinated effort, the soldiers landed a series of precise blows. The massive cat staggered, let out a final mournful wail, and collapsed to the ground, its menacing form now lifeless.

The massive cat lay lifeless soon after, its formidable presence reduced to a carcass. Jack approached and carefully extracted its crystal core, rolling it on the ground to cleanse it before proudly displaying it to his comrades.

"This is our very first crystal core," Jack announced, handing it to Four Eyes. With the adrenaline fading, Jack turned his attention to the injured soldiers, realizing Chatty was in bad shape.

Breathing heavily, the soldiers regrouped, tending to their wounded and assessing the aftermath. Despite their injuries, a sense of triumph and relief washed over them. They had faced the mystical mountain's horrors and lived to tell the tale—at least for now.

Chatty was battling severe headaches and dizziness, his condition worsening by the minute.

"They need an infusion to purge the toxins faster," Jack stated. But with their ears still buzzing, no one could hear him.

Jack chuckled softly at the irony, pulled out his space sack, and administered the infusion to the most severely injured. Two Class A soldiers followed his lead while Fatty attended to Chatty.

The team was anxious; four were wounded on the first day, and facing their first beast was a daunting start. Jack planned to wait for the infusions to take effect before continuing their journey. He took out a pen and paper, writing down his instructions to ensure everyone was on the same page.

As they rested, the soldiers' resolve solidified. The battle with the massive cat had tested their limits yet also revealed their unyielding determination. Four Eyes, curiosity piqued, approached the fallen beast to inspect its fur. The strange resilience of the creature's hide against their arrows intrigued him.

Shun and his loyal companions followed, observing silently as Four Eyes ran his hand over the cat's head. He was taken aback by the unexpected softness and silkiness of its fur, a stark contrast to its fierce appearance.

Determined to understand the creature's defenses, Four Eyes drew his daggers and attempted to carve out a sample of the fur. To his frustration, the blades couldn't penetrate the skin.

Shun stepped forward, signaling that he wanted to try. Recalling Shi Min's words, Shun unsheathed the sword gifted to him and channeled his internal energy into the blade. With a focused strike, he aimed at the neck that connected the cat's head.

What happened next was both surprising and dangerous. The strike caused the cat's acidic blood to ignite, creating a burst of flame. Four Eyes, quick on his feet, yanked Shun away from the sudden inferno.

Jack, alerted by the commotion, rushed over. Upon seeing the blazing carcass, a grin spread across his face. The others looked on in confusion, wondering what had Jack so pleased.

With a mischievous smile, Jack took out his pen and scribbled a single word: "FOOD."

The reaction was immediate and varied. Each soldier had their own internal monologue.

'No way I'm going to eat that.'

'Who is eating this beast?'

'Are you damned serious?'

'Is it really safe to eat this beast?'

'I already want to vomit.'

But as the massive cat continued to burn, a tantalizing aroma filled the air, causing their stomachs to rumble in unison.

'Damn! This beast smells so good.'

'How can such an ugly demonic beast have such a good aroma?'

Despite their initial reservations, the scent of the cooking meat was undeniably appetizing. The soldiers, driven by both hunger and curiosity, began to reconsider their options.

As the flames subsided and the heat dissipated, Jack donned his protective gloves and set to work on the massive cat. His movements were precise and practiced as he carefully sliced through the body and tail, removing the skin and revealing the dark, aromatic meat beneath. The enticing smell filled the air, making the soldiers' mouths water.

'Jack truly is a Jack of all trades!' they mused, watching him with admiration. He seemed to possess an uncanny knowledge of survival skills and practical know-how, much like a living MacGyver.

Shun, initially shaken by the accidental fire, marveled at how the situation had turned in their favor. What started as a mishap had ended up roasting the beast perfectly. 'A blessing in disguise, indeed,' Shun silently thought, shaking his head.

Meanwhile, Four Eyes approached the cat's head, which had flattened and roasted with the fur still intact. He saw potential in this unusual find and began cleaning it, removing the inner scraps until it resembled a giant cat mask. Excited, he thought about how useful it could be for Ling Li and the children.

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