I Am The Swarm

Luo Wen managed to catch up with the small dinosaurs so quickly not only because the shortest path between two points is a straight line but also because the dinosaurs had stopped moving.

From a distance, Luo Wen saw them crowding around the entrance of a burrow at the base of a small hill, shouting at the top of their lungs. It was as if they were trying to attract a more powerful predator, a level of recklessness that surpassed even Luo Wen’s.

The burrow, originally concealed by natural coverings, had been trampled into disrepair, leaving the entrance exposed.

Although the opening wasn’t large, the slender-bodied dinosaurs could probably force their way in with some effort. However, their physique wasn’t suited for underground combat, and entering the burrow would likely lead to a grim fate.

The dinosaurs, seemingly experienced, clearly understood this. Instead of attacking, they surrounded the burrow and used their incessant shouting to intimidate the creatures inside.

Occasionally, they would tilt their heads and cock their ears, as if searching for something.

Luo Wen, observing from above, couldn’t see what kind of creature was hiding in the burrow. Judging by the fact that it dared not return home while the dinosaurs waited, it was likely weak and not worth much attention.

The grating calls of the dinosaurs were giving Luo Wen a headache. Concerned about attracting other, stronger predators and eager to silence the commotion, Luo Wen decided to intervene.

First, he circled the area to ensure no ambush predators were lying in wait to take advantage of the situation.

Although Luo Wen lacked formal training in biology, his field experience had taught him some basic patterns. These swift, sharp-toothed dinosaurs were unlikely to be venomous.

Despite their numbers, Luo Wen wasn’t afraid of them, thanks to his armored body. Moreover, he had no intention of engaging them head-on. As a flying, venomous, stealth-capable “assassin,” ambush tactics suited him far better.

The positioning of the dinosaurs’ sensory organs meant they had to tilt their heads upward to see above. Having honed his skills in hiding and ambushing through countless hours of “battle royale” games, Luo Wen considered this an easy operation.

Just as he locked onto his target and began gliding down, the nearby grass suddenly rustled, as if something had bolted from the undergrowth.

The dinosaurs, only slightly slower to notice than Luo Wen, immediately reacted to the disturbance. While a few stayed behind to guard the burrow, the rest charged toward the moving grass.

Curious about what had happened and interested in studying the dinosaurs’ combat tactics—just in case they turned out to be venomous—Luo Wen quietly adjusted his trajectory mid-flight. His silent wingbeats allowed him to veer off-course without alerting the guarding dinosaurs.

From his new vantage point, Luo Wen saw multiple creatures emerging from the burrow—five mammals, to be exact.

Cornered by the dinosaurs, the mammals bared their teeth and growled lowly, trying to intimidate their attackers. But the dinosaurs, having pursued them this far, weren’t about to back down. One dinosaur let out a series of calls, summoning its companions guarding the burrow.

The mammals were much smaller than the dinosaurs, standing about 30 centimeters tall at the shoulder. Including their extraordinarily long tails, they were roughly the same length as the dinosaurs—about 1.5 meters.

Their bodies were covered in dense, short black fur with softer white fur on their bellies. Their paws resembled small human hands, similar to oversized rats.

Their round, black eyes radiated fear, clearly marking them as creatures with weak combat abilities.

Outnumbered and outsized, the mammals quickly fell to the dinosaurs’ coordinated attack, despite their frantic resistance.

Luo Wen, witnessing the bullying of the weak, felt compelled to intervene.

One dinosaur, busy tearing into its prey, suddenly felt a sharp pain in its neck. When it turned to investigate, it saw nothing. Confused, it endured the pain until it became unbearable, letting out a cry of agony.

The other dinosaurs looked at their comrade in confusion. Unable to identify the cause of the distress, they resumed feeding.

But soon, another dinosaur cried out in pain, collapsing to the ground and writhing.

Their eerie, discordant cries unsettled the remaining dinosaurs. Though they scanned their surroundings, they found nothing amiss. Still, they lowered their heads cautiously, a flicker of fear in their eyes.

Even so, another dinosaur succumbed to the same mysterious pain shortly after.

The first dinosaur, now paralyzed, had stopped moving entirely, and its cries were fading. This unexplained phenomenon filled the remaining dinosaurs with terror. Reluctant to abandon their prey, they hesitated until one finally fled. The rest soon followed.

Luo Wen didn’t pursue them. For one, the available food was already more than sufficient. Moreover, he was running low on venom. His venom glands were small, and he had used an extra-strong dose on the first dinosaur to ensure a quick kill. Without venom, his combat effectiveness was significantly reduced. Letting the dinosaurs go would keep the meat fresh, and they could always be dealt with later.

The scene left three dinosaurs’ bodies and the five mammalian victims, now lifeless after the attack. Despite their rough appearance, they were usable as food.

Luo Wen dragged the dinosaur carcasses into the burrow one by one. Their bodies, free from significant wounds or the scent of blood, would remain fresh for a long time.

The mammalian bodies, however, reeked of blood and had to be dealt with immediately. Luo Wen carefully salvaged usable meat, wrapped it in fur, and used his “Gatling” ability to spray the area with a pungent scent. The stench not only masked the smell of blood but also deterred scavengers, making the burrow a safer food storage site.

Eating raw meat no longer troubled Luo Wen. In fact, the mammalian meat tasted far better than insect meat.

Interestingly, the mammals had a special organ near the base of their tails, where they stored excess fat. This adaptation kept them agile while allowing them to reserve energy. Luo Wen named the fat “Tail Lard”, dubbing the creatures “Tail Lard Rats”.

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