"If you don’t think you can handle it, write up a transfer request right now. I’ll replace you immediately!"
Wei Zhuang stared at Sun Yang without a word, his tone as cold as ice.
"Alright, alright! I’ll stop talking!"
Sun Yang immediately shut his mouth and lowered his head, pretending to check his gear.
"Command is sending you because they trust you!"
Wei Zhuang’s gaze swept over each of their faces. "This mission will be more difficult than today’s.
The Insect Race has already shown its combat strength at the edge of the outer nests. Tomorrow, you might encounter High-Level Mutants!"
"Instructor, what about support tomorrow? Will other squads be joining us?"
Li Chang’an asked in a deep voice.
"No other squads!"
Wei Zhuang said calmly, "You’ll be operating independently. Your objective is to clear an area of activity and collect sample data from High-Level Insect Race Mutants!"
"Collect samples?"
Han Ruoxi frowned. "Collecting samples from mutants usually means close-range contact, which makes them even more dangerous!"
"That’s right!"
Wei Zhuang nodded. "Which is why you need to be extra careful.
Tomorrow morning, I will personally take you to the mission area.
Don’t disappoint me!"
With that, he turned and left, leaving the Insect Hunter Squad to look at each other in dismay.
"That instructor is brutal!"
Sun Yang broke the silence. "Leaving at five AM, and we have to deal with mutants on our own? Captain, can’t we turn this mission down?"
"Turn it down? You think this is a leave request for a logistics job?"
Han Ruoxi scoffed. "If you don’t want to go, you can stay here. Just don’t drag us down!"
"Miss Han, I was just talking!"
Sun Yang waved his hands frantically. "Can you stop picking on me all the time?"
Li Chang’an stood up and looked at the others. "Stop arguing. It’s late. Get some rest.
We assemble at 4:30 tomorrow morning. Don’t be late!"
「Four in the morning.」
The alarm in the dorm went off right on time, its piercing sound especially jarring in the silence.
’God, what time is it?’
Sun Yang rolled over, pulled a pillow over his head, and mumbled, "Whoever set this alarm is a menace to society..."
"If you dawdle for one more second, you can skip the mission today and just run thirty laps instead!"
Li Chang’an stood in the middle of the dorm with his arms crossed. His voice was quiet but left no room for argument.
"Captain, can’t you cut me some slack? Can we make it three laps instead of thirty?"
Sun Yang sat up, rubbing his hair and giving Li Chang’an a pitiful look. "This is just inhumane!"
"Keep talking and I’ll add ten laps!"
Li Chang’an said without looking up, busy adjusting the gear at his waist.
"Alright, alright, I’ll shut up!"
Sun Yang scrambled out of bed sheepishly, grabbing his Pulse Gun. "See? I’m getting up! A man can’t even get a decent night’s sleep..."
Han Ruoxi, already fully geared up, was leaning against the doorframe adjusting her Electric Gloves. Watching Sun Yang complain, she couldn’t help but scoff. "Sun Yang, if you’d waste less time talking, today’s mission would probably go much more smoothly!"
"Miss Han, stop rubbing salt in the wound!"
Sun Yang waved his hand dismissively. "I’m just trying to lighten the mood. Should everyone be as icy as you?"
"Alright, are you two done bickering?"
Shen Qiuyue walked over from the other side of the room, giving them both a cold look. "Keep it up and it’ll be five o’clock. Let’s move!"
"Sister Qiuyue, you’re right. I’m ready to go!"
Sun Yang gave an awkward laugh and slung his backpack over his shoulder. "Captain, let’s go!"
Li Chang’an scanned the team. "Bai Lin, do you have the data equipment?"
"Got it all!"
Bai Lin, who was sitting to one side, was checking his small terminal. "Data collector and interference cracker are here. Ready for deployment anytime!"
"Excellent!"
Li Chang’an nodded. "Since everyone’s ready, let’s move out!"
The Insect Hunter Squad met on time at the rendezvous point outside the base. Wei Zhuang was already waiting for them.
He stood beside an armored combat vehicle, a mission briefing in his hand.
"So, you’re on time."
Wei Zhuang glanced at his watch and handed the mission briefing to Li Chang’an. "This is today’s target area, codenamed the Vortex Zone. Insect Race activity is high, and there may be High-Level Mutants present.
The mission objective is to clear the outer swarm and collect at least two High-Level Mutant samples!"
"The Vortex Zone? That doesn’t sound like a great place to be."
Sun Yang took the briefing and glanced at it. "Instructor, is the name supposed to be intimidating?"
"Intimidating? If you think the name is intimidating, the real thing will be much worse!"
Wei Zhuang said coldly, "Remember, you’re the Insect Hunter Squad, not a bunch of delivery boys.
Now that you’ve accepted the mission, I don’t want to hear any more whining."
"Don’t worry, Instructor."
Li Chang’an took the briefing. "We’ll complete the mission."
"Then get in!"
Wei Zhuang pointed to the combat vehicle. "I’ll take you to the edge of the area. After that, you’re on your own!"
The combat vehicle rumbled along, heading towards the mission area.
The atmosphere inside the vehicle was much more serious than usual.
"Sun Yang!"
Li Chang’an suddenly spoke up. "Sun Yang, once we’re on the ground, you need to stay mobile. Don’t just fire from a fixed position.
High-Level Insect Race Mutants are faster than the regular ones. If you stay put, you’re just a target."
"Understood!"
Sun Yang nodded. "I’ll be careful. I promise I won’t hold you back!"
"Han Ruoxi!"
Li Chang’an turned to her. "You need to set up several backup locations for your Electric Grid. Don’t expend all your Energy at once.
The terrain in the mission area is complex. The Insect Race could flank our defensive line at any time!"
"Got it!"
Han Ruoxi nodded slightly, checking her gloves.
"Shen Qiuyue!"
Li Chang’an looked at her. "Your job is to protect Bai Lin and ensure he can complete the data collection. If necessary, prioritize covering his retreat!"
"I will."
Shen Qiuyue’s reply was brief and firm.
"Bai Lin, your equipment cannot fail."
Li Chang’an finally looked at Bai Lin in the corner. "The key to this mission is the sample data. If the equipment is damaged, the mission is a failure!"
"The equipment won’t be a problem."
Bai Lin said coolly, "But you have to buy me enough time. Data collection on High-Level Mutants requires operating at close range."
"We’ll get you the time."
Li Chang’an’s tone was calm and firm. "But you also have to make sure you come back alive!"
The combat vehicle began to slow, and Wei Zhuang’s voice came from the driver’s cabin. "We’re at the mission area. Out!"
After the Insect Hunter Squad got out of the vehicle, they were faced with a desolate landscape. Thick dust filled the air, and the faint roars of the Insect Race could be heard in the distance.
"What a hellhole!"
Sun Yang muttered under his breath, "The Vortex Zone... they sure didn’t pick the wrong name for this place!"
"Captain, the signal interference from the Insect Race is extremely strong here!"
Bai Lin frowned, looking at the device in his hands. "My equipment is being affected. Data transfer speeds might be reduced."
"Then we’ll have to get closer to the center!"
Li Chang’an drew his Saw Chain Sword. "Let’s move. We’ll try to make this quick."
The squad began to advance slowly. Not long after entering the area, they heard a faint vibration from the ground around them.
"Captain, we’ve got movement!"
Han Ruoxi’s guard went up, Electric Energy already gathering in her hands.
"All units, on alert!"
Li Chang’an ordered in a low voice, his eyes scanning the area. "The Insect Race is probably on its way!"
The words had barely left his lips when the ground suddenly split open. A massive insect burst from the soil, its giant, tooth-filled maw lunging straight for Sun Yang.
"Holy crap! It’s huge!"
Sun Yang dodged with a terrified roll, raising his Pulse Gun and opening fire. "Captain, is this thing a mutant?!"
"No!"
Li Chang’an lunged forward, his Saw Chain Sword slicing precisely toward the insect’s head. "It’s just a regular member of the Insect Race. Focus!"
"This is too strong for a regular one!"
Sun Yang backed away while firing. "Captain, you call this regular? You sure it isn’t one of the high-end models?"
"Stop talking nonsense and deal with it!"
Han Ruoxi flung an arc of electricity that struck the insect’s leg, causing it to slow.