Chapter 225: Savage Lands (2)

[Third Person's PoV] 

Spider-Man and the others sat on top of a tree, watching Ka-Zar hunt with keen interest. Although they found the spectacle fascinating, none of them felt inclined to join in the hunt—except for Spider-Kat. However, not wanting to appear odd to the others, she decided against intervening.

In front of Ka-Zar stood a large, bizarre creature with unusual features. It stood about 3 to 4 meters tall, hunched forward on two legs. Its hands bore three razor-sharp claws on each, as long as swords. Small feathers adorned its muscular arms, while its head and coloration resembled a mutated chicken.

Ka-Zar lay low on one side, with Zabu crouched and stalking from the opposite direction, concealed by the tall grass.

The creature lifted its head, scanning its surroundings. Seizing the moment, Ka-Zar sprang into action. Knife in hand, he sprinted toward the beast. The creature snapped its head toward him and let out a guttural roar, raising its claws to attack.

As the creature slashed at him, Ka-Zar dove into a roll, skillfully dodging the attack while closing the distance. Without hesitation, he plunged his knife deep into the creature's thigh, pushing it further with his palm. Blood splattered as Ka-Zar cut a large gash, causing blood to flow uncontrollably.

The creature let out a scream of agony and stumbled backward before spinning to face Ka-Zar, who now stood holding his blood-soaked knife. Ka-Zar flicked the blood off the blade, flipped it in his hand, and held it close to his face, gesturing for the creature to come at him.

The creature growled threateningly before charging wobbly toward Ka-Zar. It was exactly the opportunity Zabu had been waiting for. With the creature entirely focused on Ka-Zar, it didn't notice Zabu leaping toward it. Using the creature's arm as a springboard, Zabu launched itself at the beast's neck, ripping out a large chunk before jumping away. The creature let out a bloodcurdling scream, slashing wildly at empty air.

Blood gushed from the gaping wound, weakening the creature further. Ka-Zar and Zabu worked in tandem, taking turns inflicting injuries until the beast could barely move.

Finally, its head slumped to the ground. Its breathing was labored, its eyes drooped, and its life was fading. Ka-Zar, catching his breath, approached the creature and plunged his knife into its skull, ending its suffering. Its eyes closed for the last time—it was dead.

"Good work," Ka-Zar said, nodding toward Zabu.

Zabu grunted in acknowledgment, nodding back as if to return the sentiment.

Ka-Zar then turned toward Spider-Man and the others. "You carry it. If you're joining us for lunch, you'll need to pull your weight. I don't feed freeloaders."

"I suppose that's fair…" Spider-Man muttered as he walked toward the carcass.

"Are… Are we really going to join him for lunch?" Firestar asked hesitantly, staring at the dead creature with apprehension.

Nightwing shrugged before he placed his hand on her head and rubbed it affectionately, "It couldn't hurt to see what it's like. You don't have to eat it if you don't want to, but it's worth learning about the culture and how he survives here."

Firestar nodded, relieved she didn't have to eat it. She smiled, feeling more at ease with her boyfriend by her side.

Spider-Man lifted the massive creature effortlessly with one hand, hoisting it over his head. "This is pretty heavy. I'd say it's over 5 tons, give or take."

Ka-Zar and Zabu just stared at Spider-Man's nonchalant posture as he carried it, both of their faces twitching slightly. The two of them having spent so much time together that their thoughts were becoming one as they thought: You say it's heavy, but you're carrying it like it's nothing…

"How do you normally transport your food?" Scarlet-Spider asked curiously, doubting Ka-Zar or Zabu could carry something this large.

"We usually hunt smaller animals," Ka-Zar explained. "But since we have uninvited guests, we went for something bigger. If we hunt more than we can carry, we leave it for the Savage Land to digest, feeding it back into the ecosystem."

They all nodded in understanding, gaining insight into Ka-Zar's way of life—a life that respected and maintained balance with the wild.

Ka-Zar led them toward his camp, the massive carcass inevitably attracting other predators. Among them was a dinosaur: an Ankylosaurus. The armored beast stood its ground, its long, spiked tail smashing against the ground with a resounding thud. It clearly demanded the carcass Spider-Man was carrying.

"I CALL DIBS!" the group shouted simultaneously, raising their hands.

Everyone stopped and glared at one another. "ROCK! PAPER! SCISSORS! SAY… SHOOT!"

Ka-Zar and Zabu looked at the strange group in disbelief, their jaws slightly agape.

The game ended with everyone throwing paper—except Scarlet-Spider, who shot scissors.

"YES!" she exclaimed triumphantly.

"Cheater," the others muttered, glaring at her.

"I bet she read our minds," Spider-Kat scoffed.

"Yeah, I thought we agreed not to use powers for stuff like this!" Ghost-Spider added, crossing her arms in annoyance.

Scarlet-Spider rolled her eyes. "I didn't read your minds. This game is all about psychological warfare. When everyone says 'rock, paper, scissors,' the first instinct is to throw the last thing said: scissors. But knowing that, you all changed to rocks, then you all knew that everyone else must also know that and chose paper at the last moment. I just stayed one step ahead."

Spider-Man clicked his tongue. "This is why I stopped playing this game. Too many sweats."

Scarlet Spider, standing a few feet away, smirked mischievously. She placed two fingers on her lips, blowing a kiss in his direction before pivoting with a theatrical flourish toward the impatient Ankylosaurus stomping nearby. "C'mon, Tiger~ Don't hate the player, hate the game," she teased, snapping her fingers as she strode away with a confidence that turned heads.

Spider-Man stood there, slightly dazed, for a moment before glancing back at the group. His voice broke the silence. "I can't be the only one who found that incredibly attractive just now, right?"

The others rolled their eyes in synchronized exasperation, refusing to validate his commentary.

Seeing that they weren't giving in to what he was the demanding, but actually dared have a audacity to approached it, the Ankylosaurus let out an angry Huff and slammed it's spiked tail even more roughly and began to charge towards The Scarlet-Spider, kicking up dust. 

"Is she going to be alright? She doesn't seem to possess any weapons, is she as strong as you?" Ka-Zar asked Spider-Man.

"She doesn't have a weapon because she doesn't need one… She is the weapon" Spider-Man smirked. 

Scarlet-Spider got into a Martial arts stance, the Ankylosaurus lowered it's head to heat but here with his armor plated head but that was a mistake. 

Scarlet-Spider brought her fist down rapidly right on top of its head. A resounding crack reverted through the field, the Ankylosaurus eyes widened as it staggered backwards shaking its head, only for all of its head plating to fall completely off its head. 

It let out an angry moo-like roar, its eyes burning with hatred as it charged towards Scarlet-Spider once more, this time as it got closer it spun around and tried to whack her with its tail. 

Scarlet-Spider instead of dodging it caught it with both hands, she slid back slightly due to the momentum but she slammed her feet down and stuck to the very ground.

It tried to move its tail trying to move it again only to find out that it couldn't and something was holding onto it tightly not letting it go. Scarlet-Spider grinned as she slowly began to move, the Ankylosaurus moving as well against his will. 

They started moving in circles until they started to pick up speed, the Ankylosaurus moo-roared once more but this time it sounded anxious it tried to plant its feet still on the ground but it soon became unable to even feel the ground. 

The Scarlet-Spider was rapidly spinning in circles, swinging the creature around and around and around. To the point they both became a blur. 

Spider-Man and the others had an amused look, while Ka-Zar and Zabu looked more fearful than anything as That Ankylosaurus was way heavier than the creature Spider-Man was holding and here was a girl treating it as a pet, like it weighed nothing. 

All they heard from the creature was a crying and fearful moo as its limbs were flailing about, its eyes spinning in circles, "It's time to do something your kind has never done before! You'll be the first of your kind to ever do it!" Scarlet declared as she spun.

She then let out of the Ankylosaurus which sent it flying and swishing through the skies, "Go you beautiful creature! Take towards the skies! FLY HIGH!" 

Scarlet skidded to a stop and put hand over the top of her eyes to block the glare from the sun. The mooing grew more distant as the creature grew smaller and smaller as it traveled until it was a single speck… and it was gone. 

"One small step for creatures… One giant leap for Dinosaur kind" Scarlet-Spider said tearfully giving it a military salute send off. The others joined in pressing their fingers by their temples in salute as they stood upright. 

They all then began to chuckle, while Ka-Zar looked at them horrified, 'What kind of monster am I inviting into my home…' 

Ka-Zar let out a sigh, "Shall we get going then?" Ka-Zar asked, wanting to get this over with quickly. 

The others agreed and began following Ka-Zar as he led the way. 

It wasn't long, maybe a couple minutes later they reached a cave blocked off by leaves, Ka-Zar then stopped as he called out, "Shanna, come out, I've brought home some guests!" 

They then heard a woman's voice from inside, "Guest? Is that why you took so long? I was starting to get worried" 

From the cave emerged a woman that could only be described as a seductress. She had long wavy luscious blond hair as she was practically naked except for a leopard spotted fur bra and brown loincloth. She was tall and proportionate, her body appeared slim and well trained, evident of her strength and survival out in the wild. 

Both Spider-Man and Nightwing let out a low whimper as they saw her, Firestar went and punched Nightwing in the shoulders, while the rest of the girls went and punched Spider-Man. 

Spider-Man and Nightwing just turned towards each but didn't say anything. Both were trying to suppress their laughter as they both knew they were thinking the same thing. 

Shanna looked at them with a raised eyebrow putting a hand by her hips, "What weird dressed guest you brought"

"LIKE YOU'RE ONE TO TALK!" They shouted. 

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