My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse novel Chapter 558

But no matter how hard they tried, their talons couldn’t even graze Vulture’s skin.

His ironclad defense held firm. Eventually, the chickens’ frantic movements slowed, and they hung limply from his hands, their exhaustion evident.

If not for the steady rise and fall of their chests, one might have thought Vulture had accidentally choked them to death.

With only two mutated chickens caught—each as large as a turkey—Vulture instructed the group to securely tie them with strong ropes, ensuring their talons and beaks were rendered useless no matter how much they thrashed.

As an added precaution, he had metal scraps from the wrecked animal farm fashioned into covers for their beaks, preventing any accidental injuries. The foresight to salvage the metal scraps proved invaluable.

Once the chickens were safely restrained, the group resumed their journey, eventually reaching the flowing river where the other team had previously encountered the mutated fish.

However, instead of fish, this time they were met with mutated ducks, eerily gliding through the water.

The mutated ducks were now even more flamboyant than before, resembling oversized swans with comically loud quacking sounds.

Their feet were as large as the hands of a six-foot-tall man, their necks longer and fluffier, and their bodies were three to five times their original size.

Although they lacked sharp nails or beaks, their speed in the water was astonishing—akin to a speedboat.

They darted through the river in a frenzy, racing to catch the mutated river fish, even though the fish were larger than them. Undeterred, the ducks repeatedly dove into the water, causing the fish to scatter in panic like frightened cats.

The mutated ducks resembled swift submarines as they dove underwater, moving with remarkable speed and precision.

It was no wonder the fish scattered in terror—once a duck locked onto its prey, it wouldn’t relent until it captured the chosen fish.

After successfully catching a large fish, the bulkier ducks, noticeably larger and more muscular, would bring the catch ashore and share it with the smaller ones.

Based on their observations, Vulture and the others speculated that these mutated ducks had retained some of the characteristics of their predecessors.

The smaller ducks were likely females, while the males were not only larger but also had distinctive features: feathers atop their heads standing upright, slightly elongated, resembling small tails.

Once the male mutated ducks dragged their hunted fish to their respective female partners, the females would respond with delighted quacks, their tails wagging enthusiastically.

Their necks would swayed back and forth towards their partners, as if expressing their gratitude. After the males finished their task, the pairs would begin eating the fish together.

Observing from the shadows, Vulture and the others noticed a surprising detail: the mutated ducks had sharp, saw-like teeth hidden inside their large beaks.

These teeth retracted when not in use, making it easier for the ducks to bite through the tough scales of the mutated fish and tear the flesh from their bones with remarkable efficiency.

This time, even Vulture hesitated to step forward and repeat his earlier tactics with the mutated chickens.

Just the sight of the mutated ducks was enough to send a shiver down his spine. However, when he turned around to suggest a plan or seek input, he was met with everyone’s expectant gazes.