owlsbooks Chapter 17 Warthog
Chapter 17 Warthog
Wu Yu was not surprised by the python's attack.
Wu Yu had just checked and discovered that Earth Online assigns territory to each species in a regular way.
For example, three small to medium-sized herbivores or omnivores might be next to a non-large carnivore (such as a python).
Two small to medium-sized herbivores or omnivores and one large herbivore will be placed next to a large carnivore (lion, tiger, brown bear, etc.).
The food chain is the same in every four zones, with carnivores at the top, followed by herbivores or omnivores, and finally very small animals such as rabbits and plants.
Earth Online does this partly to recreate the real ecological environment, and partly to increase competition.
The previous rules also stated that to obtain a higher score, one must increase the survival time of their native species...
On the one hand, Earth Online encourages competition, and on the other hand, national participants want to extend the lifespan of their native species as much as possible.
These two things are contradictory, and when contradictions arise, conflict will erupt.
For example, the python mentioned earlier might have been hunting or scouting the situation.
If Wu Yu's natal species wasn't a primitive bird, but a weaker animal, he might wake up tomorrow to find his territory completely surrounded by pythons.
The next few days were quite peaceful, but only Wu Yu was at peace; the participants from other countries were anything but.
For example, participants from South Africa chose the warthog as their zodiac animal.
As the territory of warthogs borders pythons, South African participants are suffering greatly.
Earth Online depicts twenty-five warthogs, five of which were eaten by a python in just a few days.
The South African participants had no doubt that their warthogs would be extinct in a few days.
The only thing that puzzled the South African participants was why the python was fixated on their warthog, given that they weren't the only herbivores in the surrounding area.
Said that Cao Cao Cao Cao arrived.
The warthog territory is an open savanna with low vegetation and a relatively wide field of vision, which is conducive to spotting predators.
However, python attacks often occur at dawn or dusk when the light is dim, using bushes and tall grass as cover to approach silently.
As the sun set, several pythons slithered slowly from the riverbank grass downstream, eyeing a group of warthogs who were rolling around in a mud puddle to cool off.
The python stopped about 20 meters away from the warthog herd, slightly raising its head and constantly flicking its tongue to detect scents and vibrations in the air.
It selected an adult warthog that was a little far from the herd and was munching on grass roots with its head down.
The warthog seemed to sense a hint of danger, suddenly stopping its eating, raising its head warily, and twitching its ears.
But in that instant, the python moved.
The python's body shot out like a gray-green lightning bolt close to the ground, its front half suddenly springing out and opening its huge mouth to bite the warthog's hind leg!
The warthog hissed in alarm and kicked its hind legs in an attempt to break free, but the python's teeth were already deeply embedded in its flesh, and at the same time, its long body quickly coiled around it, constricting the warthog's abdomen and chest.
"Hmph!!!"
The warthog let out a painful and angry howl, twisting its body violently and bowing its head to ram backward with its tusks.
But the python coiled around the warthog very quickly; in just two or three seconds, the warthog was tightly bound, and each struggle only tightened the coil.
Hearing the commotion, the other warthogs scattered in panic, while several strong adult male warthogs turned and charged at the python, attempting to strike its body with their tusks.
The python did not loosen its grip at all, continuing to tighten its muscles to restrict the warthog's breathing while nimbly swinging its tail to avoid the warthog's charge.
Although warthogs are fierce, their tusks are ineffective against these giant pythons that are closing in and strangling them. Most of their attacks land on the slippery and tough scales, leaving only shallow white marks.
The warthog, once entangled, struggled until it became weaker, its limbs began to twitch, and white foam spilled from its mouth and nose.
The python sensed that its prey's heartbeat had slowed down, so it slowly loosened its grip, adjusted its position, aligned the warthog's head with its open mouth, and began to swallow slowly and steadily.
The whole process lasted nearly ten minutes.
During the incident, the warthog herd attempted to approach several times, but were deterred and dispersed by the python's tail wagging.
As the python swallowed the entire warthog whole and its body swelled up considerably, a notification popped up on the screens of the South African participants again:
[Population size decreased by one, current survival count: 19]
Despite the warthogs' fierce resistance, it was ultimately to no avail.
Pythons don't actually like to eat warthogs, so why do they keep eyeing them?
Because of the discovery of two hundred wild animals, the three territories adjacent to the python are inhabited by honey badger, primitive bird, and warthog.
Honey badger goes without saying; no matter what species it encounters, it will attack without hesitation.
If you win, it's because you're good; if you lose, it's all over—you just die on the spot.
Eighteen years later, it's another brave honey badger.
Although pythons can defeat and catch honey badger, they are too troublesome.
Not to mention primitive birds.
Two hundred Wuye sect pythons had previously gone to test the waters, but they were defeated and returned with some injuries.
Hunting primitive birds is not worthwhile, even if you manage to catch them, because there's little meat and it's troublesome.
After much thought, Erbai Wuye realized that the only prey his python could hunt was the warthog, the species chosen by the participants from South Africa.
The devastation in the Warthog Territory was clearly presented to all viewers through a global live broadcast.
The live stream from South Africa was filled with shouts of despair and anger, while the live stream from Japan was filled with cold-blooded cheers.
[Sakura Country: As expected of Lord Two Hundred! Precise choice; the law of the jungle is the only natural law!]
South Africa: This is unfair! Why are they only targeting us?
It seems that snake is quite clever; it knows how to bully the weak and fear the strong.
Inside the game space, Wu Yu monitored the situation of the primitive bird tribe through the screen and also caught a glimpse of the dynamics of the neighboring territories.
Wu Yu knew that the pythons would not provoke the primitive bird group again for a while.
But this does not mean it is safe.
Time flows extremely fast in the Ancient Corridor, and environmental changes and ecological competition will only become more and more intense.
Meanwhile, in the python's territory, Erbai Wuye looked at the python, its belly bulging as it digested the warthog, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
By continuously preying on warthogs, his python gained ample energy, and its size seemed to be slowly increasing, with its scales becoming increasingly glossy.
He brought up the panel:
【Cherry Blossom Country - 2000 Wilderness - Python】
Current rating: 15 (mainly from successful predation)
[Number of ethnic groups: 10]
"Good, keep this pace. Take care of those warthogs first and solidify our position as the top predator in this area."
Erbai Wuye pondered, "Once my python is stronger, perhaps I can test that annoying bird again."