"You?"
Shen Qiuyue shot him a cold glance, the corners of her mouth twitching upward slightly. "You almost got taken down by a single member of the Insect Race, and you dare talk about ten?"
"That’s because I was careless!"
Sun Yang retorted, unconvinced, "Did you see my performance just now? My reaction time, quick as lightning, was practically textbook!"
"A textbook on how to make mistakes, maybe!"
Bai Lin couldn’t help but chime in from the side.
"Hey! Can you guys not be so hard on me?"
Sun Yang threw his hands up, looking wronged. "Was what I said really that outrageous?"
"Enough bickering!"
Li Chang’an waved his hand, cutting off their squabble. "We’re on a mission. Stay focused, and don’t let your guard down!"
At his words, everyone immediately fell silent and continued forward.
A faint tension hung in the air. Although the previous encounter with the Insect Race hadn’t posed much of a threat, no one dared to get complacent.
"Movement up ahead!"
A slight signal fluctuation crackled in Bai Lin’s earpiece. He stopped in his tracks, his brow furrowed.
"Movement?"
Li Chang’an immediately looked back at him. "Specific location?"
"Northeast, about three hundred meters out!"
Bai Lin quickly adjusted his equipment, answering as he checked the signal source. "Could be a small unit of the Insect Race. The signal isn’t very stable!"
"Let’s go check it out!"
Li Chang’an made an instant decision and led the team toward the signal’s source.
"Hope we run into something a little more challenging this time!"
Sun Yang muttered under his breath as he walked. "Those bugs just now were way too weak!"
"You’re just asking for trouble!"
Han Ruoxi shook her head. "If we really run into a strong enemy later, don’t you dare get careless again!"
"Don’t worry, I absolutely won’t this time!"
Sun Yang patted his chest, his expression full of confidence.
They hadn’t walked for long when a sudden, urgent rustling came from the tall grass ahead. Accompanied by low roars, several massive insectoids burst out from the bushes, charging furiously toward the Insect Hunter Squad.
"Here they come!"
Li Chang’an’s Saw Chain Sword was instantly unsheathed. He charged an insectoid, slashing at its head in a flash.
Without hesitation, Han Ruoxi unleashed a powerful electric current. Lightning shot out like a serpent toward an insectoid, striking its body and causing it to shudder violently before collapsing to the ground.
"Not a bad reaction time!"
Shen Qiuyue said with a hint of approval as she swung her sword. "Han Ruoxi, you’re finally not lagging behind!"
"I was never lagging behind, okay!"
Han Ruoxi rolled her eyes and continued to manipulate the electric currents, dodging attacks while unleashing bolts of Lightning. "I’m giving it my all here!"
Sun Yang had already seized the opportunity. His Pulse Gun fired a series of beams, accurately hitting the vitals of several insectoids. He laughed as he fired. "See? I’m completely serious this time. How about that?"
"Alright, don’t get cocky!"
Li Chang’an reminded him in a low voice. "Concentrate your fire. Finish them quickly!"
Just as they were busy fending off the insectoids, Bai Lin suddenly glimpsed a Black Shadow flit through the distant woods. He immediately grew vigilant. "Brother Chang’an, there’s something else out there!"
"What is it?"
Li Chang’an immediately turned to him. "Did you get a clear look?"
"Not clearly, but it didn’t look like one of the Insect Race!"
Bai Lin’s fingers flew across his device. "The signal’s wrong. It’s like someone’s over there!"
"Someone?"
Hearing this, Han Ruoxi perked up excitedly. "Could it be an Alien Martial Artist?"
"Can’t rule out the possibility!"
Bai Lin nodded. "The signal strength isn’t high, but it’s very stable. It should be a highly intelligent entity.
We need to go check it out!"
"Let’s deal with these insectoids first!"
Li Chang’an raised his Saw Chain Sword and brought it down hard, severing the claws of the insectoid in front of him and splattering green fluid everywhere.
"Done!"
Sun Yang clapped his hands and shook the residue off his Pulse Gun. "Let’s go. Time to see what that thing is!"
The Insect Hunter Squad quickly finished off the last few insectoids and headed in the direction Bai Lin had indicated.
"We have to be careful this time!"
Li Chang’an walked at the front, reminding everyone, "If it really is an Alien Martial Artist, we’ll need to be extra cautious!"
"I know!"
Sun Yang followed behind with a grin. "Don’t worry, I’ll be rock-solid this time!"
The Insect Hunter Squad passed through the woods and soon arrived at the mouth of a small valley.
Li Chang’an made a hand signal for everyone to stop.
"It’s just ahead!"
Bai Lin stared at the signal on his device, his voice low. "About fifty meters away from us!"
"Everyone stay alert!"
Li Chang’an said softly, then led the team to approach stealthily.
Suddenly, a faint sound came from the bushes ahead, and a figure slowly emerged.
"Is that... a person?"
Han Ruoxi’s eyes widened. "It’s really a person?"
The figure was tall, clad in black battle armor, and holding a strangely shaped weapon. They stood motionless, as if observing something.
"Who’s there?"
Li Chang’an suddenly shouted, tightening his grip on his Saw Chain Sword.
The figure slowly turned around, their gaze fixed on the Insect Hunter Squad, their face completely expressionless.
"Who are you?"
Li Chang’an frowned, his Saw Chain Sword raised slightly as his eyes locked onto the person. "Identify yourself!"
The figure remained motionless, as if they hadn’t heard Li Chang’an’s words.
"Brother Chang’an, should we engage?"
Sun Yang stood to the side, his Pulse Gun already aimed at the figure’s chest. "I can open fire at any time!"
"Wait!"
Li Chang’an held up a hand, signaling for Sun Yang not to act rashly.
"Something’s not right with that guy!"
Bai Lin said in a low voice while analyzing the data on his device. "The signal is strange. It’s like some kind of Disguise, or..."
He paused, frowning. "I’m not sure if that’s human!"
"Not human?"
Han Ruoxi’s eyes widened in surprise. "Are you saying it might be an Alien Martial Artist?"
"Can’t rule out the possibility!"
Bai Lin remained focused on his device, the data fluctuations growing more and more pronounced.
"Since we’re not sure, let’s test the waters!"
Shen Qiuyue spoke calmly, her High-Energy Dueling Sword already drawn and its tip aimed at the figure. "If it really is an Alien Martial Artist, we still need to be careful. Don’t underestimate it!"
Li Chang’an nodded and stepped forward slowly, his voice still calm. "I’ll ask one more time. Who are you? And why are you here?"
The figure finally moved its head, its gaze sweeping over each member of the Insect Hunter Squad. Then, it suddenly let out a laugh, its voice abnormally deep. "You... should not have come here!"
"Ooh, so mysterious!"
Sun Yang couldn’t help but chuckle. "I say, pal, aren’t you afraid of scaring yourself with this whole spooky act?"
Li Chang’an ignored Sun Yang’s teasing, still staring at the figure, his gaze gradually sharpening. "What exactly are you?"
The figure didn’t answer. Instead, it turned and slowly walked toward the depths of the valley. Its gait was steady, but it gave off an eerie feeling.
"Do we follow?"
Han Ruoxi looked at Li Chang’an, an electric current already gathering at her fingertips. "I don’t think that’s an ordinary enemy!"
"Follow!"
Li Chang’an gave the order decisively. The Insect Hunter Squad immediately followed, maintaining a certain distance, not daring to get too close.
"What the hell is this guy’s deal?"
Sun Yang muttered under his breath as he followed. "This is seriously creepy!"
"Cut the crap and focus!"
Shen Qiuyue snapped in a low voice. "An unknown enemy is the most dangerous kind. Don’t get careless!"
The team continued to follow in the figure’s footsteps. Soon, they arrived at a clearing deep within the valley.
It was unnaturally quiet all around, with only a gentle breeze brushing past their ears. Strange stones were scattered across the ground, looking like the remains of some kind of structure.