"What's going on? Why aren't the hunting teams back yet? And where's the convoy that was transporting the dinosaur carcasses?"
Deep in the forest, a group of about a dozen poachers sat around, quietly discussing the situation. Most of them were armed with rifles, but among them were four elite enemies from the first stage: two knife-throwers and two fat bruisers.
These elites had slightly higher stats than their counterparts from the first stage. They were promoted from among the best of Vice-Terra's gang, given the privilege of joining the main poacher team.
Leading the group was a massive man, standing over two meters tall with bulging muscles. He wore a green military vest, cargo pants, and combat boots, with thick, veiny arms exposed. Strapped to his waist was a rope tied to a stone the size of a human head.
This was Rambo, the Military Bully, a hidden mini-boss in the second stage of Cadillacs and Dinosaurs.
Like Vice-Terra, Rambo had undergone genetic modification using dinosaur DNA, granting him monstrous physical strength. Previously the leader of the poaching team, he had been demoted to second-in-command when Dr. Famine parachuted in his bloodthirsty butcher to take over.
Though pushed into the background for now, Rambo planned to regain his top position once the butcher left.
For now, however, he was focused on the dinosaur in front of him. The sudden disappearance of the hunting teams and the convoy gave him an uneasy feeling, but he couldn't afford to pass up the chance to hunt a tyrannosaurus rex.
Killing and delivering a T-Rex to Dr. Famine would be the perfect way to prove his worth and regain his standing.
With a quick glance at his subordinates, Rambo decided they could handle the giant dinosaur, even with just a dozen men.
"Let's go! The fat bruisers and knife-throwers will come with me! Everyone else, get into position and shoot from a distance!"
With their orders given, the poachers scrambled to their positions. Rambo, swinging his stone flail, led the charge out of the forest toward the T-Rex, followed closely by the elite poachers.
Gunshots rang out as the poachers opened fire, hitting the massive dinosaur multiple times. The T-Rex roared in pain, dropping the food it was eating and charging toward them, its jaws wide open.
Before the T-Rex could reach them, Rambo hurled his stone flail with a powerful swing. The massive stone smashed into the dinosaur's head, sending the four-meter-tall beast crashing to the ground.
Rambo, having been genetically enhanced, possessed physical strength on par with the dinosaurs themselves.
Rambo barked the order, and he and his elite team rushed toward the fallen T-Rex, intent on finishing the job.
But the T-Rex wasn't done yet. Though injured, it wasn't mortally wounded. It let out a furious roar, snapping its jaws around one of the approaching fat bruisers and hurling him through the air. The unfortunate poacher smashed into a tree with a sickening crunch.
Rising to its full height, the T-Rex began to fight back, thrashing wildly as it clashed with the poachers.
Meanwhile, the poachers providing covering fire from the forest suddenly heard rustling behind them.
Turning in confusion, they saw three leather-clad thugs charging out of the underbrush, followed by a man calmly reloading his revolver.
In an instant, two of the poachers were dead. As Qin Ming advanced, methodically shooting, the remaining poachers tried to reload, but the thugs were already upon them.
Despite the poachers' best efforts, Qin Ming quickly reloaded and continued his assault, methodically taking them down one by one.
In the distance, Rambo, hearing the gunfire, looked back in confusion. But before he could figure out what was happening, the T-Rex seized its chance, throwing him to the ground.
As he scrambled to his feet, the T-Rex charged. Thinking quickly, Rambo hurled his stone flail once more, smashing several of the dinosaur's teeth and sending it crashing down again.
But as the T-Rex began to retreat, badly injured, Rambo cursed. He couldn't catch up to it, lacking the speed needed to pursue the beast.
Now seething with frustration, Rambo turned toward the forest where the gunfire had come from, his eyes filled with rage.
Moments later, two of Qin Ming's thugs emerged from the trees, rifles raised, and aimed directly at him.