Chapter 752 - 368: Your Spear Technique is Truly Amazing (Part 2)
Chapter 752: Chapter 368: Your Spear Technique is Truly Amazing (Part 2)
"You’re here?"
Instructor Wei looked up at them.
"Come take a look. This is your mission for tonight."
The squad members gathered around. A marker on the map clearly indicated a location near a region with frequent Insect Race activity.
"I’ll go over the specifics in a moment!"
Instructor Wei glanced at Li Chang’an.
"Are you ready?"
"Standing by!"
Li Chang’an nodded.
"Good. We’ll wait for the commander to arrive, then."
Instructor Wei stood up straight.
"I hope this mission goes as smoothly for you as the last one."
Soon, Commander Liu Na walked into the operations command room. She wore a sharp combat uniform and held a file in her hand.
"Insect Hunter Squad, good evening."
Liu Na came to a stop, placed the file on the table, and looked up at the squad.
"This next mission isn’t simple. You need to stay sharp."
"We’re ready, Commander!"
Li Chang’an stood straight, his tone resolute.
Liu Na nodded, opening the file and speaking as she read.
"According to the latest reconnaissance report, there’s been a significant increase in Insect Race activity deep in the eastern mountain range of Lion’s Fang Star.
We suspect there may be a small Insect Hive there. Your mission is to confirm its existence and bring back detailed information on its precise location."
"An Insect Hive?"
Han Ruoxi’s eyes widened.
"You’re kidding me. There are only five of us. If that’s really a hive, how are we supposed to handle it?"
"I’m not asking you to eliminate the Insect Hive."
Liu Na glanced up at her, her tone calm.
"This is just a recon mission. Report back the moment you find the target.
Another squad will take over from there."
"Understood!"
Li Chang’an nodded.
Liu Na continued.
"Be warned, however. The Insect Race will be on extremely high alert around the hive. If you’re discovered, you could find yourselves surrounded.
Your safety is the top priority. Don’t be reckless. Understand?"
"Understood!"
The squad answered in unison.
"The detailed route plan has been uploaded to your terminals. You might run into unexpected situations along the way, so be prepared to adjust the plan as needed."
Liu Na closed the file.
"Any other questions?"
"Commander, are there likely to be other factions in the area?"
Shen Qiuyue asked.
"It’s possible."
Liu Na nodded.
"We’ve recently discovered traces of Alien Martial Artists. They seem to be interested in the Insect Hive as well.
If you run into them, avoid conflict at all costs. Understood?"
"Understood!"
Li Chang’an nodded again.
"Good. Then get ready to move out."
Liu Na gestured.
"Your gear and supplies have been prepared. You can go pick them up now."
"Yes, ma’am!"
Li Chang’an saluted, then led the squad out of the command room.
On the way to the armory, Han Ruoxi couldn’t help but speak up.
"I knew it. How did we get stuck with another dangerous mission? It’s like the Insect Race has a special fondness for us."
"Stop complaining!"
Sun Yang shrugged.
"Even if they gave this mission to another squad, there’s no guarantee they’d do a better job than us.
Besides, we’re the Insect Hunter Squad. The name says it all. If we’re not hunting insects, what are we supposed to be doing?"
"Alright, that’s enough, you two."
Li Chang’an interrupted them.
"The priority for this mission is stealth. We can’t afford to make any noise. Got it?"
"Yeah, yeah, we get it!"
Sun Yang waved his hand.
"You’ve said that so many times, my ears are worn out from listening!"
Once at the armory, the squad members began to collect their gear and supplies.
Li Chang’an inspected his Saw Chain Sword, ensuring its Power System was functioning correctly.
Shen Qiuyue adjusted her Armor, making sure every protective plate was seamlessly fitted.
Meanwhile, Han Ruoxi was busy testing her Superpower, faint sparks of electricity crackling in her hands.
"Ruo Xi, don’t overdo it!"
Bai Lin reminded her.
"Your Energy drains quickly. Don’t run out of juice on the way there."
"I know, I know! I was just testing it."
Han Ruoxi pulled back her hand.
"You’re always hovering over me. So annoying!"
"I’m just afraid you’ll hold us back."
Bai Lin said flatly.
"You!"
Han Ruoxi glared at him, fuming, but held her tongue.
"Alright, cut it out, both of you."
Li Chang’an picked up his gear.
"Everyone have enough supplies?"
"More than enough!"
Sun Yang hoisted his backpack.
"We’re armed to the teeth for this one!"
"Then let’s go. No more wasting time."
Li Chang’an led the way towards the exit.
After leaving the base, the squad proceeded along the planned route. There was a chill in the night air.
"Brother Chang’an, this area feels a little creepy."
Han Ruoxi whispered.
"Have you noticed? The insect tracks are getting more and more frequent."
"Yeah, I see them."
Li Chang’an stopped and pointed to the ground.
"These tracks look fresh. That means there’s probably active members of the Insect Race up ahead."
"So what do we do? Go around?"
Sun Yang asked in a hushed voice.
"We can’t. The terrain is too complex. Changing our route on the fly would be even more dangerous."
Li Chang’an thought for a moment.
"We press on, but slow down. Stay concealed."
The squad continued onward, moving cautiously. Their surroundings grew increasingly silent, the only sound being the soft sound of their footsteps.
"We’ve got movement up ahead!"
Bai Lin stopped abruptly, signaling for the team to be on alert.
Li Chang’an immediately dropped into a crouch, pulling the others down into cover.
He looked in the direction Bai Lin indicated and saw them: four or five members of the Insect Race moving in the distance.
"It’s a patrol."
Shen Qiuyue whispered.
"Looks like they’re scouting the area."
"Hold your position. Wait for them to pass."
Li Chang’an ordered in a low voice.
The squad members held their breath, hiding silently behind a large rock, their eyes glued to the Insect Race up ahead.
A few minutes later, the insectoids moved on, disappearing into the darkness.
"Okay, let’s move."
Li Chang’an rose to his feet and signaled for the squad to move forward.
"That was too close!"
Han Ruoxi let out a sigh of relief.
"If they’d spotted us back there, we would’ve been in deep trouble."
"Which is why you should talk less and be quiet."
Shen Qiuyue said coldly.
The squad pressed on, finally reaching the target area deep in the night.
Before them lay an open valley. In the distance, they could faintly make out strange, building-like structures that looked like the outer perimeter of an Insect Hive.
"So this is the Insect Hive?"
Sun Yang asked quietly.
"The outskirts, probably."
Li Chang’an observed.
"Let’s scout it out first. No rash moves."
The squad members fanned out, carefully searching for clues.
A strange stench hung in the air, like rotting blood.
"Brother Chang’an, I’ve got something over here!"
Han Ruoxi called out from a short distance away.
Li Chang’an led the squad over. On the ground was a patch of strange slime next to several mangled Insect Race corpses.
"What’s with these corpses? Did the Insect Race fight among themselves?"
Sun Yang asked with a frown.
"Doesn’t look like it."
Shen Qiuyue knelt to inspect them.
"These wounds look more like they were made by human weaponry."
"Humans?"
Han Ruoxi was stunned for a moment.
"Could it be another squad?"
"I’m not sure, but someone’s definitely been here."
Li Chang’an stood up.
"We need to move faster and figure out what’s going on."
Just then, a low roar echoed from the distance, sounding like some massive creature was approaching.
"Damn it, something’s coming!"
Bai Lin warned in a low voice.
"Everyone, take cover! Don’t move!"
Li Chang’an ordered immediately.
The squad members quickly dove for cover, their eyes fixed nervously on the direction of the sound.
The sound grew nearer, and the ground itself seemed to tremble slightly.
A massive member of the Insect Race came into view. Its eyes glinted with a cold light, and its limbs were covered in sharp blades.
"That thing... can we even fight it?"
Han Ruoxi couldn’t help but whisper.
"We could, but it’s not worth the risk."
Li Chang’an lowered his voice.
"Let it pass. Don’t make a move."
The insectoid lingered nearby for a moment, as if on guard, before slowly moving on.
"Let’s go. Back to base."
Li Chang’an said in a low voice.
"We’ve gathered enough intel. No need to risk it."
The squad members nodded and quickly withdrew from the area, heading back toward the base.