Chapter 670: Chapter 327: A Strange Appearance (Part 2)

"Your mission is to scout the mining district and eliminate any hostiles!"

"The abandoned mining district?"

Han Ruoxi asked quietly.

"Hasn’t that place been abandoned for a long time?"

"We’ve heard the Insect Race has taken a liking to hiding in those abandoned zones lately!"

Shen Qiuyue said coldly.

"The terrain in the mining district is complex, perfect for them to set up ambushes!"

"They’re really screwing us over!"

Sun Yang grumbled under his breath.

"We were just celebrating last night, and now we have to put our lives on the line again today!"

"Insect Hunter Squad!"

Liu Na’s gaze swept over them, her tone as cold and hard as ever.

"Your mission is to move out with the Thunder Eagle Squad. You will be responsible for scouting the perimeter of the mining district and confirming the exact numbers and types of the Insect Race.

Maintain open comms throughout the operation. Report any anomalies immediately!"

Hearing the name "Thunder Eagle Squad," Sun Yang’s expression instantly fell.

"Them again? Can’t we get a different squad? Those guys lost the last tournament, and ever since, the way they glare at us looks like they could spit fire!"

"Scared?"

Han Ruoxi raised an eyebrow, her tone full of mockery.

"Like hell I’m scared! I just think they’re a pain in the ass!"

Sun Yang shot back defensively.

"Enough!"

Li Chang’an’s voice cut in calmly. He stood at the head of the squad, his gaze serene.

"Those are the orders. Stop wasting time and prepare to move out!"

"Yes!"

Everyone immediately snapped to attention and fell silent.

「In less than half an hour, the two squads had boarded a transport ship and were heading toward the abandoned mining district.」

The Insect Hunter Squad and the Thunder Eagle Squad sat on opposite sides of the cabin, the atmosphere suddenly growing awkward.

"Li Chang’an, so you’re leading the mission again?"

Du Feng, the Captain of the Thunder Eagle Squad, spoke up, his tone laced with resentment.

"Looks like the base really values you guys."

"The base assigns the missions. There’s nothing to complain about."

Li Chang’an glanced at him, his voice calm.

"And your Thunder Eagle Squad is participating too, isn’t it?"

Du Feng scoffed, his eyes betraying his indignation.

"Hmph. We slipped up in the last tournament. In a real combat situation like this, I’m eager to see what you’re really made of!"

"Ready whenever you are."

Li Chang’an remained unfazed, showing no signs of being provoked.

Sun Yang couldn’t help but mutter from the side.

"This guy’s so passive-aggressive. What a sore loser..."

"Shut up. Don’t make trouble for the Captain."

Han Ruoxi glared fiercely at Sun Yang.

"Say one more word, and Du Feng will be all over you."

"Alright, alright, I’ll shut my mouth!"

Sun Yang flinched and sulkily leaned back in his seat.

「The transport ship soon landed on the outskirts of the mining district.」

The area had long been deserted. Discarded equipment and collapsed mine shafts littered the landscape, lending the entire district a deathly stillness.

"All personnel, disembark! Move out!"

Liu Na’s order came over the comms. Everyone disembarked swiftly, splitting into two teams to begin their reconnaissance.

"Bai Lin!"

Li Chang’an said quietly.

"Activate the recon system. Scan the area for heat sources and energy signatures!"

Bai Lin nodded and quickly pulled out a portable scanner. Heat signatures from the surrounding area soon appeared on the screen.

"Faint heat fluctuations five hundred meters to the southwest!"

Bai Lin reported quietly.

"Probably smaller Insect Race forms!"

"Good."

Li Chang’an nodded.

"Shen Qiuyue, you take Han Ruoxi and Sun Yang to scout the southwest. Bai Lin and I will stay here and ensure communications remain open!"

"Understood!"

Shen Qiuyue accepted the order without hesitation and led the other two swiftly toward the target.

The atmosphere in the mining district was exceptionally oppressive. The only sound was the wind whistling through the derelict equipment.

"This place is seriously creepy!"

Sun Yang gripped his Pulse Gun, looking around nervously.

"You guys think there are really members of the Insect Race here? How come it’s so quiet?"

"The quieter it is, the more dangerous."

Shen Qiuyue said coldly, her Dueling Sword already drawn and ready for a fight.

"Don’t scare me like that..." Sun Yang gulped, his grip on his gun tightening slightly.

"Go back if you’re scared."

Han Ruoxi said deliberately, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Who’s scared?"

Sun Yang immediately straightened his back.

"I was just reminding everyone to be careful!"

"Quiet! We’ve got movement up ahead!"

Shen Qiuyue suddenly raised a hand to signal, her whole body tensing up.

Beside an abandoned mine shaft up ahead, a few members of the Insect Race were hunched over, gnawing on something. Their sharp appendages scraped against a metal surface, producing a grating sound.

"Target confirmed. Standard scout units."

Han Ruoxi said quietly, her Superpower Bracelet already beginning to charge.

"Ruo Xi, open with a ranged attack!"

Shen Qiuyue ordered quietly.

"Sun Yang, lay down suppressing fire. I’ll flank them!"

"Copy that!"

Han Ruoxi raised her hand, and an arc of electricity shot out, striking one of the creatures squarely in the head.

Enraged by the surprise attack, the insects shrieked and lunged at them.

"Here they come!"

Sun Yang yelled as his Pulse Gun unleashed a volley of searing Energy Bullets, driving back the two foremost insects.

Shen Qiuyue moved swiftly, cleaving another insect in two with a single horizontal sweep of her sword.

"Got ’em!"

Han Ruoxi dusted off her hands. Just as she was about to speak, Bai Lin’s voice suddenly crackled in her earpiece:

"Bad news! Massive heat signatures deep in the mining district! It’s a swarm! Get back here, now!"

The color drained from Han Ruoxi’s face at Bai Lin’s warning.

"Massive heat signatures? A swarm? Are you sure?"

"I’m sure!"

Bai Lin’s voice was strained with urgency.

"The number of heat signatures deep in the district is rising rapidly! My analysis shows at least thirty hostiles closing in! Your position is too dangerous! Get back here, fast!"

Shen Qiuyue immediately waved them on, her voice cold.

"Fall back, now! Don’t waste any time!"

"Fall back? You’re kidding..." Sun Yang looked stunned.

"Thirty of them? How are there so many here? We just fought off a swarm yesterday, and now this? Has the entire Insect Race gone insane?"

"You’ve got time for this crap?"

Han Ruoxi glared at him.

"Move! We waste another second and we’re all going to be bug food!"

"Alright, alright, I’m going, I’m going!"

Sun Yang raised his Pulse Gun and began to back away cautiously, his eyes scanning their surroundings.

The trio quickly retreated toward Li Chang’an’s position, but they hadn’t gotten far before a piercing shriek echoed around them.

"Dammit, they’re after us!"

Han Ruoxi spun around. In the distance, at the entrance to a mine shaft, a swarm of Insect Race silhouettes had appeared.

These insects were a full size larger than the small scout units from before. Their carapaces, gleaming with a dark Red luster, made them look far more dangerous.

"Just as I thought. An ambush."

Shen Qiuyue’s gaze turned icy.

"They were lying in wait for us the whole time, just waiting for us to take the bait!"

"That’s way too treacherous!"

Sun Yang shouted.

"What do we do? Do we charge right at them?"

"Are you out of your mind?"

Han Ruoxi retorted, firing an arc of electricity to force back the lead insect as she retreated.

"Thirty of them. You think the three of us can take them?"

"Stop arguing!"

Shen Qiuyue barked coldly.

"Control your pace! Don’t let them catch up!"

The trio fought as they retreated. The sheer number of insects was daunting, but for the moment, they hadn’t fully closed the distance.

Han Ruoxi’s electrical arcs and Sun Yang’s suppressing fire barely held them at bay. But they all knew this defensive line wouldn’t last long.

"Bai Lin!"

Shen Qiuyue yelled into her comms.

"The swarm is getting closer! Is there any way to stop them?"

"There’s a collapsed mine tunnel three hundred meters ahead. It has natural obstacles. You can use the terrain to hold off the swarm temporarily!"

Bai Lin replied instantly.

"But you have to hurry! Those things are too fast!"

"Understood!"

Shen Qiuyue commanded at once.

"Ruo Xi, Sun Yang, don’t stop! Head for the mine tunnel!"

「A few minutes later, the trio finally reached the area with the mine tunnels.」

Just as Bai Lin had said, the terrain here was a mess of collapsed pits and toppled steel beams. For the Insect Race to cross these obstacles, their speed would inevitably be slowed.

"We’ll hold them here!"

Shen Qiuyue said coldly.

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