Chapter 755 - 370: No Unauthorized Actions
Chapter 755: Chapter 370: No Unauthorized Actions
"Yeah, same area. But we’re responsible for patrolling the perimeter."
Li Chang’an leaned against the transport’s wall, closing his eyes to rest.
"Once we arrive, you follow my command. No one acts on their own!"
"Understood!"
The squad members answered in unison.
The transport bumped along the rugged mountain road for some time before finally stopping at a concealed location.
The squad members disembarked one by one, and the sight before them made them tense up again.
The surrounding forest was as dense as ever, and a faint, rotten stench permeated the air. They could still see the tracks they had left yesterday on the ground.
"I can’t believe we had to come back here."
Han Ruoxi pinched her nose.
"This stench is unbearable!"
"You’ll have to put up with it," Shen Qiuyue said while checking her gear.
"You get used to it."
"Everyone, check your gear!"
Li Chang’an stood to the side, his gaze sweeping over each person.
"We’ll be patrolling the same route as yesterday. Maintain formation and don’t wander off."
The squad quickly got into formation and, after completing their checks, began to advance along the designated route.
Along the way, Sun Yang couldn’t help but speak up.
"Chang’an, what if we keep patrolling like this and don’t run into any of the Insect Race? Did we come all this way for nothing?"
"It’s better if we don’t," Li Chang’an said flatly.
"If we ran into the Insect Race on every patrol, it would mean the situation is already critical."
"I know, but I just have this feeling..." Before Sun Yang could finish, a rustling sound suddenly came from up ahead.
"Halt!"
Li Chang’an immediately raised his hand, signaling for the team to stop.
"Contact ahead. Everyone, on alert!"
The squad members quickly dispersed to take cover, their eyes locked on the direction of the sound.
A moment later, a relatively small member of the Insect Race appeared. Its movements were slow, and it didn’t seem to have noticed them.
"Just a scout type," Bai Lin said in a low voice.
"Should we take it out?"
"Take it out," Li Chang’an ordered decisively.
"Ruo Xi, get ready. Use your Superpower. Make it quick and clean."
"Understood!"
Han Ruoxi raised her hand, a ball of blue electrical energy rapidly arcing at her fingertips. She aimed at the insect’s location and unleashed it.
The arc of electricity struck the insect with precision. It let out a short, shrill cry before collapsing to the ground.
"Nice shot."
Li Chang’an nodded.
"Move out."
The squad began moving again, each member treading more carefully this time, wary of attracting unwanted attention.
After about half an hour, they suddenly noticed strange tracks on the ground ahead, as if something had been dragged across it.
"What’s this?"
Sun Yang crouched down to inspect them, his expression growing grim.
"Looks like drag marks... from a body?"
"The Insect Race usually retrieves the corpses of their own kind," Bai Lin said in a low voice.
"It’s probably the ones we killed yesterday."
"Then that means they’re nearby!"
Shen Qiuyue tightened her grip on her sword.
"They’re probably in the woods up ahead!"
"Don’t jump to conclusions."
Li Chang’an waved his hand.
"Keep observing. Don’t act rashly."
The squad cautiously approached the woods. Suddenly, a huge Black Shadow shot down from the trees, lunging straight for Sun Yang!
"Watch out!"
Li Chang’an yelled, simultaneously swinging his Saw Chain Sword to block Sun Yang. The blade slammed into the Black Shadow’s claws, producing a piercing screech of metal on metal.
"What the hell is this thing!"
Sun Yang scrambled back, raising his Pulse Gun and firing a shot at the Black Shadow.
The Black Shadow roared in fury as the shot hit, then spun around and leaped into the dense forest with astonishing agility.
"That thing... that wasn’t a normal member of the Insect Race!"
Han Ruoxi swallowed hard.
"Did you see how fast it was?"
"It’s an enhanced type!" Bai Lin said, quickly checking the data on his terminal.
"Its Energy fluctuations are more than double that of a normal insect!"
"An enhanced type?"
Shen Qiuyue frowned.
"Looks like we’re in trouble."
"Ignore it for now. We still have a mission to complete," Li Chang’an said in a deep voice.
"But stay sharp. That thing will probably be back."
The squad members nodded, reformed their ranks, and continued to advance.
The squad pressed on, the atmosphere in the forest growing heavier and more oppressive.
Everyone clutched their weapons, eyes warily scanning their surroundings.
"Brother Chang’an, I have a bad feeling about this," Han Ruoxi said in a small voice.
"That insect from before... it didn’t seem like a normal enhanced type. Its speed and strength were off the charts."
"You’re right, something is off," Li Chang’an nodded, not breaking his stride.
"But whatever it is, if it comes at us, we take it down."
"Easier said than done. We’re on its turf now," Sun Yang whispered.
"Even if we can beat it, we won’t come out ahead!"
"Advantage or not, we have to face it head-on," Shen Qiuyue said coldly.
"We can’t just retreat now, can we?"
"Retreat is not an option," Li Chang’an scanned their surroundings.
"But we can slow our pace. Be careful not to walk into one of its traps."
"You think it sets traps?" Bai Lin asked in a low voice, still looking at his terminal.
"Is the Insect Race that intelligent?"
"Who knows?"
Li Chang’an shook his head slightly.
"But it never hurts to be careful."
The squad’s pace slowed considerably. Everyone’s ears were pricked, and every rustle of leaf and grass in the woods made them feel as though they were facing a great enemy.
Suddenly, a faint RUSTLE came from the bushes up ahead, as if something was slowly moving.
"Halt!"
Li Chang’an immediately raised a hand, signaling for everyone to hold their position.