Wilderness Survival with Druid System

Why would Chen Wen engage in such a seemingly suicidal act?

It's not that he's looking for death, nor that he's lost his mind.

It's because Chen Wen didn't recognize the sound of the Western diamondback rattlesnake at all.

There aren't many videos about the sound of the Western diamondback rattlesnake online, and the ones he found all had clickbait titles using audio memes.

The few genuine videos are old programs by educational channels.

The sound was distorted and quite different from the real-life sounds.

Moreover, Chen Wen had been bothered for a long time by the yellow-crested woodpecker, making his head buzz and his hearing decline.

Now it was dusk, and animals in the desert had come out to roam; many birds were flying near this bare rock area.

Under the influence of these factors, Chen Wen could not immediately identify the sound.

As the stick poked into the hole, the cicada-like noise grew stronger.

Chen Wen furrowed his brows, feeling it wasn't quite like a cicada...

Oh crap!

Just as Chen Wen was frowning, a dark shadow suddenly shot out from the hole, hurling straight towards Chen Wen.

Chen Wen was startled, activating [Swift]!

Under his terrifying reflexes, the shadow seemed to slow to half-speed, becoming extremely sluggish.

However, Chen Wen's speed instantly increased.

He leapt backward nimbly, easily avoiding the shadow's pounce.

After landing heavily, Chen Wen scrutinized the shadow that had attacked him.

With the remaining sunset light, upon finally seeing the shadow clearly, cold sweat broke out on Chen Wen's forehead.

"Damn! It's a Western diamondback rattlesnake! How could it be this damn thing!"

Chen Wen shivered, feeling a sudden fear.

If he were bitten, this survival attempt would be over!

"Wait, isn't this thing supposed to sound like a rustle? How come it sounded like a cicada!"

Chen Wen recalled the sound he heard, updating his memory of the Western diamondback rattlesnake.

However, after recognizing it was the rattlesnake that attacked him, Chen Wen felt unexpectedly relaxed.

The initial ambush of this creature is its most dangerous move.

If you avoid that strike, your safety increases exponentially.

Furthermore, Chen Wen was very interested in the trait it could offer!

This was his first official face-off with a predator!

What kind of trait could it provide?

Thinking this, Chen Wen's expression changed.

He didn't think of escaping, but instead grabbed the stick he had dropped just moments ago.

He fixed his gaze on the rattlesnake.

...

"So fast!"

Jiang Chang exclaimed, causing the already tense crowd to quiver sharply.

"Did it bite him? This kid is definitely going to scream for his mom from the pain!"

Gina's hefty assistant squeezed through the crowd, provoking annoyed glances from everyone.

But he was indifferent, rather smugly speaking to Char's assistant, "Ha, I told you this kid wouldn't manage..."

Before he finished, Char's assistant, who was focused on the screen, interrupted him: "He's fine."

"Ah, so he is... Wait! He's fine?!"

The hefty assistant stared wide-eyed: "How could he be fine? Didn't you say not even a cat could react in time to a Western diamondback rattlesnake's assault?"

Char's assistant rolled his eyes.

Char and Gina weren't collaborating friends; they were rivals, only united temporarily by their trash talk in the same trench.

Hence, Char's assistant quipped back: "Maybe he just got lucky? Who knows?"

The other assistants were equally astounded.

Could someone's reflexes truly outmatch a cat's?

An astounding contestant!

The person in charge also exhaled a sigh of relief.

As long as no one was hurt.

Just as he thought to call off the staff preparing the antivenom.

The monitor operator's shocked shout rang out: "Chen Wen hasn't left! He's trying to hunt the Western diamondback rattlesnake with a wooden stick!"

The person in charge's heart tightened once more.

Forget it; better keep the antivenom ready!

And other contestants' assistants turned their attention to these words.

Hunting a Western diamondback rattlesnake!

Chen Wen has some guts!

...

Chen Wen had no clue how many people were watching his every move.

He adjusted his breathing, stared intensely at the snake before him.

"Seems just like the encyclopedia described, grey-brown base color with diamond patterns, about one meter long, slightly hefty body."

Chen Wen murmured, picking up the wooden stick starting to provoke the rattlesnake.

The rattling sound akin to cicadas, the Western diamondback rattlesnake aggressively attacked the approaching stick.

It even let out hissing sounds which send chills down one's spine.

A terrifying species!

Chen Wen was even more cautious.

He planned to use the stick to pin down the rattlesnake's head, then while it couldn't lift its head, approach and finish it off, finally cutting off its head with a knife.

But the rattlesnake wouldn't let Chen Wen accomplish his plan so easily.

The rattlesnake was swift, dodging skillfully every time Chen Wen tried to press its head down.

"Hey, did you also fight free combat in Southeast Asia back in 1974?"

Watching the snake's head sway from side to side, Chen Wen felt speechless.

This evasion, Kennedy would probably want to learn on the spot.

But this would not stop Chen Wen. He abandoned the plan to pin its head down with a stick.

Instead, he opted for the simplest, most direct approach: strike!

Chen Wen swung the wooden stick, smashing it down onto the rattlesnake's body.

This move was straightforward and direct, bending the snake's body heavily onto the ground.

The rattlesnake seemed stunned, attempting a fierce counterpounce.

But with the stick in hand, enhanced by [Swift], Chen Wen wouldn't let the rattlesnake approach.

A sweeping backhanded strike sent the snake's body flying into a nearby rock.

"Being cocky? Let's see you fly!"

Chen Wen chuckled, quickly following through, giving no time for the snake's escape.

Just as the rattlesnake was rising, Chen Wen delivered a diagonal chop onto the front of its body.

The rattlesnake was entirely dazed.

After three more solid hits, the snake's aggression was totally beaten out.

It tried to flee, but Chen Wen's speed far exceeded its own.

With several consecutive smashes, the rattlesnake lay limply on the ground like a noodle.

Even now, Chen Wen remained vigilant.

He first used the stick to pin the snake's head before approaching.

With a swift motion, he severed the snake's head.

Chen Wen packed the snake's body away.

"Got dinner secured!"

Chen Wen hummed a tune, running back to the shelter.

...

"Dog Beating Stick Skill!"

"No, no, this is Snake Beating Stick Skill!"

"He must be an oriental martial arts master!"

"Ah, after this ends I must visit the East, to witness that magical land."

Seeing a group of assistants start discussing mysterious Eastern martial arts again, Jiang Chang was both amused and serious.

Chen Wen's abilities are truly astonishing.

The person in charge smacked his lips, he had seen many hunters catching rattlesnakes.

But catching them with such simple tools was something only able-bodied older hunters in their forties and fifties could do.

"A remarkable contestant!"

The person in charge instructed the monitor to keep an eye on this area, choosing not to interfere further.

In his eyes, with Chen Wen's agility, even if other contestants found him, they might not necessarily eliminate him.

Instead, they might have a chance of being eliminated themselves.

Strong in power, agile in action, exceptionally fit body.

Such a beast would even qualify to participate in Alone in the Wilderness!

...

On Chen Wen's end.

Ever since returning to the shelter with the rattlesnake, the yellow-crested woodpecker had stopped its incessant chirping.

This improved Chen Wen's mood considerably.

Without the woodpecker's constant noise, Chen Wen worked with exceptional vigor.

Not long after, a fragrant roasted rattlesnake was ready.

Chen Wen brought the snake meat to his nose, taking a deep whiff.

How delicious!

Time to eat!