The Evolutionary Path of the Lion

Chapter 108 Mass Migration

The eleventh day of the dry season.

The pool is still there.

This is the only thing to be thankful for right now.

Chen Fei lay on the low slope by the pool, his chin resting steadily on his two front paws, squinting his eyes as he quietly surveyed the vast grassland in the distance.

Waves of heat surged upwards from the parched ground. The grass blades on the grassland curled and withered, their color slowly fading from pale yellow to a dull, lifeless yellow. As the view extended further into the distance, all that remained was a dark, scorched yellow expanse, permeated with an atmosphere of death.

There are fewer prey.

A precipitous decline.

For the first three days, Chen Fei could occasionally spot a lone Thomson's gazelle near the pool. Soon after, even the gazelles disappeared completely. Later, even the birds circling overhead became scarce. The entire vast grassland seemed to have been thoroughly swept clean, so clean that not a single living creature could be seen.

This is the cruelest truth about the dry season.

The prey all changed habitats, initiating a collective migration.

Having watched countless documentaries about the African savanna in his past life, Chen Fei had long since grasped the logic of this natural survival. Whenever the dry season arrives, water becomes scarce, and grasslands degrade on a large scale, all herbivores are driven by their ingrained instincts. They will follow fixed migration routes, converging on areas near seasonal river channels to live together.

The migration patterns of wildebeest are extremely stable.

They don't run around aimlessly; during the dry season, they have their own fixed routes that repeat year after year without changing, so regular that they can be predicted with almost perfect accuracy.

So here comes the crucial question.

Where exactly is the corridor route for wildebeest migration hidden?

Chen Fei had figured out the answer two days ago.

Fifteen degrees east of north of the waterhole lies a narrow, low-lying area. The area has gentle slopes on both sides, with a sunken center. The meager moisture remaining from the dry season slowly accumulates in this low-lying area, and the grass roots haven't completely dried out. Wildebeest herds, when making long detours, always follow this low-lying area. This allows them to replenish their water supply along the way and conserve energy from the long journey.

This is an innate route-choosing instinct inherent in all herbivores.

They themselves were unaware of the reason, but Chen Fei knew it perfectly well.

[Host: Chen Fei]

[Identity: Sub-adult male lion]

[Energy Points: 1128↑]

The energy points have increased by four.

A little more restful sleep, plus three extra points from the gazelles we hunted and ate yesterday.

We are still 72 points away from the target value of 1,200.

Chen Fei gently exhaled a breath of stale air, withdrew his gaze from the distance, slowly stood up, and shook off the dust and bits of dry grass that had covered his body.

It's time to set off.

The low-lying area is about three kilometers from the waterhole. Walk slowly there, find a concealed ambush point beforehand, and wait quietly for the wildebeest herd to pass by. Judging from yesterday's wind direction and daytime temperature, the wildebeest herd should arrive in this area around two hours before noon.

There is plenty of time, no need to rush.

He had just taken two steps when he suddenly heard a series of commotions behind him.

The footsteps were hurried and flustered, interspersed with low, soft moans. It sounded like it was being chased by a natural enemy, or like it was just fooling around and playing around, with a strange hint of naivety.

There was no need for Chen Fei to turn around; he could guess who it was even with his eyes closed.

It can only be the big one.

Turning my head, I saw it for sure. The silly little fellow, with half a dry, hard bone dangling from his mouth, was trotting after me. His head was bobbing from side to side, the bone grinding and clattering between his teeth, making a continuous, soft, crunching sound.

Chen Fei stopped and glanced at it indifferently.

Big Head stopped abruptly, quickly threw the dry bone in his mouth onto the ground, raised his head high, and put on an innocent look as if he had just happened to be passing by.

"┗|｀O′|┛Aww~~."

Chen Fei ignored its petty thoughts, turned around, and continued walking.

Big Head sat quietly for two seconds, then quietly picked up the bone from the ground and tiptoed behind him.

Chen Fei was completely too lazy to discipline it. Bringing this little guy along wouldn't be a big deal; once they reached the ambush area, he just needed to forcibly keep it from moving around. Big Head was relatively obedient now, and could barely follow basic restraint commands. Compared to its mischievous and unruly behavior six months ago, it had improved a lot.

The three-kilometer journey took me almost forty minutes to walk at a leisurely pace.

The dry season ground is hard and cracked, each step feeling solid and heavy. Without the soft cushioning of lush grass, the pads of his feet are worn dry and tight from the parched ground. Chen Fei slowed his pace as he walked, carefully taking in the ever-changing scents in the air.

A faint, damp scent lingered at the edge of the low-lying area. The smell was subtle yet distinct, easily discernible.

He stopped about eighty meters from the entrance to the low-lying area.

A fairly lush shrub grew there, its height just enough to completely conceal his body. Moreover, his position was downwind, so his aura wouldn't drift along the wildebeest's path, perfectly avoiding the risk of exposure.

An absolutely perfect ambush position.

Chen Fei turned sideways and crawled into the dense bushes, tucking his limbs in and lying steadily on the ground.

Big Head followed closely behind, pressing the precious dry bone under its paws and obediently lying down to lie dormant. Its round, big eyes kept darting left and right, curiously surveying the desolate surroundings.

Chen Fei flicked his thick tail and gently swept it across its body, using this simple gesture to signal it to stay still and not make a sound.

Big Head immediately shrank back and obediently stopped making any noise.

But after a short while, it secretly moved the bone under its paws outwards, still thinking about sneaking a few bites.

Chen Fei's eyes suddenly darkened as he coldly stared at the restless little guy.

Big Head immediately cowered and obediently moved the bone back into place, never daring to move it again.

Quietly lying dormant and waiting is always the most agonizing test of patience.

Chen Fei remained motionless, his eyes fixed on the wind's direction. His nostrils constantly caught the complex scents around him: the fresh fragrance of bushes, the dry smell of withered grass, the heavy earthy aroma of hard soil. And in the distance, a faint, lingering odor of mutton, the unique scent of herbivores.

coming.

It wasn't a lone, solitary prey, but a complete, large herd.

Judging from the intensity of the scent in the air, the herd of wildebeest numbered between fifteen and twenty. They were steadily and slowly approaching this direction along the edge of the low-lying area.

The slow and steady pace is a typical, relaxed pace during long migrations.

At the very front of the herd are mostly young, sub-adult wildebeest, responsible for scouting and guarding the perimeter. The stronger, adult wildebeest gather in the middle of the herd, proceeding cautiously and avoiding risks.

Chen Fei decisively set his sights on the sub-adult wildebeest on the outer edge of the group.

It's not because these prey are easier to hunt, but because the herd's marching formation is a reliable indicator. Once an adult wildebeest senses danger, it will immediately lead the entire herd in a hasty retreat. Sub-adults on the periphery will have a mere 0.5 seconds of reaction time.

For him, a mere 0.5 seconds was enough to complete a deadly hunt.

Its two strong hind legs quietly retracted, and its center of gravity slowly lowered, preparing for a sudden attack.

Big Head also keenly sensed the tense and oppressive atmosphere in the air, completely giving up the idea of ​​gnawing on the bone, widening his eyes and staring intently at the empty road ahead.

Before long, the wildebeest herd slowly came into view.

Leading the way were two sub-adult wildebeest. Exposed to the scorching sun during the dry season, their fur was dull and rough, and they appeared weak as they walked, clearly suffering from chronic dehydration and lack of food; their overall condition was extremely poor.

Chen Fei suppressed the urge to strike and remained in hiding.

The closer we get, the better our chances of success will be.

Twenty meters.

Fifteen meters.

The next second, he suddenly unleashed his power without warning, leaping into the air. The warm power hidden within his body surged to his right forepaw, and the entire lion pounced out like an arrow.

He wasn't aiming at the nearest wildebeest, but rather at the second-placed target in the pack.

The wildebeest at the front had a very strong sense of danger, and immediately dodged to the side upon sensing the movement. However, the second wildebeest was limited by a brief delay in reaction, lagging behind by a full half-body length. Chen Fei's sharp claws landed steadily and precisely on the side of its neck, a vital spot.

The warm power enveloped the claw tip, striking precisely and locking onto the vital spot.

The massive, heavy body pressed down heavily.

The wildebeest staggered violently, unable to support its massive body any longer, and fell heavily onto the cracked earth.

The remaining wildebeest panicked instantly, and the entire herd scattered. They ran wildly, fleeing frantically into the depths of the low-lying area. The heavy, chaotic thud of hooves thundered and carried away by the scorching wind, disappearing completely into the rolling heatwave in a short moment.

Big Head suddenly leaped out of the bushes, having long forgotten its beloved dry bone, and headed straight for its fallen prey, opening its mouth to tear it apart and eat. Chen Fei raised his paw and gently slapped it, directly stopping its impatient movement.

"Wait."

Big Head, realizing he couldn't act rashly after being hit, could only reluctantly stop and pace back and forth. His eyes were fixed on the prey on the ground, his tail held high, filled with impatient longing.

Chen Fei precisely locked his throat, quickly eliminating his prey. Only after confirming there were no hidden dangers nearby did he slowly take a step back.

Big Head waited patiently for two seconds, making sure the surroundings were safe, before pouncing on its prey. It buried its head deep inside, frantically devouring the food, making loud slurping noises. Its eating was rough and chaotic, completely lacking any semblance of proper feeding manners.

[Host: Chen Fei]

[Identity: Sub-adult male lion]

[Energy Points: 1141↑]

The energy points increased by thirteen points at once.

The source is very clear: a successful hunt plus the extra bonus from combat training, totaling seven points. Subsequent consumption of prey to replenish stamina adds another six points of energy.

Chen Fei walked forward slowly, lowered his head to eat for a moment, and then gently pushed aside Da Tou to make room for himself to eat.

With his mouth stuffed full of meat, Big Head let out a pitiful whimper and reluctantly turned around to continue wolfing down his food.