Li Chang’an seized the opportunity, swinging his Saw Chain Sword at its neck. With a muffled bang, the insect’s head flew off into the distance as its body crashed to the ground.
"Sample collection complete!"
Bai Lin stood up, holding up his terminal. "Let’s retreat!"
"Everyone, pull out! Let’s go!"
Li Chang’an commanded loudly, covering his team as they quickly evacuated the area.
They rushed back to the vehicle, collapsing into their seats, panting. The tension of the fight was still etched on their faces.
"Phew... It’s finally over!"
Sun Yang leaned back in his seat, a look of someone who’d narrowly escaped death on his face. "Captain, that mission was an insane adrenaline rush!"
"An adrenaline rush? You want to come back for more?"
Han Ruoxi asked with a sneer.
"I wouldn’t dare!"
Sun Yang quickly waved his hands in dismissal. "Once was more than enough for this place. I have no desire to do that a second time!"
Li Chang’an glanced at them, his tone calm. "Don’t celebrate too early. The Insect Race won’t let us have it this easy forever.
The next mission will only be harder, so you’d all better be ready!"
The vehicle rumbled along the road back to base. The Insect Hunter Squad was unusually quiet, but it wasn’t long before Sun Yang couldn’t resist breaking the silence.
"Captain, I’ve got a question!"
He turned to look at Li Chang’an, a troubled expression on his face. "These Insect Race things... how exactly do they mutate? I get that they’re strong, but how do they know how to summon allies? It just doesn’t make any sense!"
"We don’t need to understand the principles of their mutation!"
Li Chang’an barely glanced up. "All you need to remember is that their intelligence is growing. You can’t let your guard down for a second when facing them!"
"Right, but it just feels unfair!"
Sun Yang pouted. "We humans spend all these years developing technology just to come up with a few gadgets that can fight them, so how come they get to level up just by hiding in some hole?"
"Because their life form is different from ours!"
Bai Lin spoke coolly, his gaze never leaving his terminal. "The genetic system of the Insect Race is highly flexible. Every time they mate, feed, or even get injured, their cells reorganize.
This mechanism allows them to acquire evolutionary abilities in a short amount of time.
That’s why they can adapt so quickly to our tactics and weaponry!"
"Sounds pretty creepy!"
Sun Yang rubbed his chin. "Bai Lin, just tell me if they can turn into talking insects.
If they start trying to have a heart-to-heart with us, that’ll be a whole new level of absurd!"
"No such phenomenon has been observed to date!"
Bai Lin remained calm. "But we can’t rule out the possibility in the future!"
"Don’t scare me like that!"
Sun Yang leaned back dramatically. "If the insects start giving speeches, I’m retiring on the spot!"
"Retire? The Insect Race wouldn’t give you the chance!"
Han Ruoxi sneered. "If that day ever comes, you won’t even have time to escape!"
"Miss Han, that’s a real morale killer!"
Sun Yang sighed. "I’m just trying to lighten the mood. Can’t you crack a smile for once?"
Han Ruoxi couldn’t be bothered to respond to him and turned to ask Li Chang’an, "Captain, where will the sample Bai Lin collected be sent? To the research institute?"
"Most likely."
Li Chang’an nodded. "The research department will analyze these samples to identify their weaknesses and evolutionary paths.
It’s the key to our fight against the Insect Race!"
"Still, they’re working our squad way too hard!"
Sun Yang slapped his thigh. "Collecting samples, killing monsters, putting our lives on the line... everything we do is high-risk. Think we could get a bigger bonus for it?"
"Can you stop talking about the bonus?"
Han Ruoxi turned and glared at him. "You make it sound like you’re only on the battlefield for the money!"
"Well, aren’t I?"
Sun Yang retorted defiantly. "Money is important! Without it, how am I supposed to improve my quality of life? Buy better gear? Pick up girls—"
"Shut up!"
Han Ruoxi snatched up her Electric Gloves, arcs of electricity sparking at her fingertips. "You say one more stupid thing, and I’ll zap you right now!"
"Whoa, my bad! Miss Han, you’re always so reasonable!"
Sun Yang immediately threw his hands up in surrender. "Let’s all just cool down, okay? Don’t be so quick to let the sparks fly. A teammate can’t take that kind of abuse!"
Shen Qiuyue, who was sitting in a corner polishing her Dueling Sword, spoke up coolly. "Sun Yang, can’t you think before you speak? Isn’t it exhausting?"
"I’m just trying to liven up the mood, Sister Qiuyue!"
Sun Yang gave her a helpless look. "I’m the designated comic relief on this team. If you were all as stoic as the Captain, life would be totally boring!"
"Shut up!"
Li Chang’an’s voice was flat, cutting him off. "One more useless word, and you’re running ten extra laps!"
Sun Yang immediately shut up, looking down and starting to fiddle with his Pulse Gun.
The vehicle arrived back at base. Just as the Insect Hunter Squad disembarked, they were summoned to the command room by Liu Na.
She stood before a massive Interstellar Map, her expression grim.
"The mission was executed well, especially the sample collection.
This is extremely important for our subsequent research on the Insect Race!"
Liu Na said.
"Commander, are there any tangible rewards beyond just praise?"
Sun Yang couldn’t help but chime in.
Liu Na shot him a cold glance. "There will be rewards, but that doesn’t mean you can slack off.
Today’s mission was just the beginning.
According to the latest intelligence from Command, the Insect Race has begun to lay more complex traps in the deeper zones.
You will very likely be sent back to the Vortex Zone, perhaps even deep into their hives!"
"The Vortex Zone again?"
Sun Yang’s face fell. "Commander, can’t we go somewhere else? The smell in that place is absolutely lethal!"
"That’s not for you to decide!"
Liu Na’s tone was calm but left no room for argument. "You are an Insect Hunter Squad. You must take on the most difficult missions.
If you don’t want to accept them, you can submit a request to withdraw from the squad!"
"No one’s quitting!"
Li Chang’an stood at attention, his voice firm. "We will continue to execute our orders!"
"Very good."
Liu Na nodded. "Dismissed. Get some rest and await new orders."
The members of the Insect Hunter Squad filed out, each returning to their own quarters.
That evening, the usual clamor returned to the barracks.
"Captain, I really have to hand it to you!"
Sun Yang sprawled on the sofa with a look of utter despair. "We’re really never getting away from the Vortex Zone, are we? Command must think we’re indestructible!"
"Being indestructible is a good thing."
Li Chang’an took off his gear, casually hanging it on the wall. "Stop complaining. If you want to live longer, get better."
"The Captain’s right!"
Han Ruoxi leaned against a nearby wall, her tone laced with mockery. "But I doubt it’ll sink in for someone like Sun Yang. He’ll be back to his old habits by tomorrow."
"Hey, Miss Han, don’t underestimate me!"
Sun Yang patted his chest. "You saw me today! I’m the core of our fire support. When have I ever not pulled my weight?"
"Sure, you pull your weight... while almost hitting the wrong target!"
Han Ruoxi rolled her eyes.
From his corner, Bai Lin spoke in a low voice. "Sun Yang, if you’re willing to cooperate, I can help you completely fix your aim deviation problem.
Once the adjustments are made, your accuracy could theoretically increase by 15%!"
"Bai Lin, you’re a genius! I was waiting for you to say that!"
Sun Yang immediately jumped to his feet. "I’ll give you the gun right now! Tinker away!"
"Alright, that’s enough bickering!"
Shen Qiuyue said coolly, "Get some rest. We have a busy day tomorrow."
The night grew late, and the barracks fell silent as the members of the Insect Hunter Squad attended to their own business.
Sun Yang, clutching his Pulse Gun, scurried over to Bai Lin’s corner and leaned in close.
"Bai Lin, we have a deal, right? You’re going to tune up my gun for me.
If this thing jams or my aim is off again, I’ll be too ashamed to show my face!"
Sun Yang lowered his voice, an eager-to-please smile on his face.
Bai Lin glanced up at him and said flatly, "I can adjust it for you, but I’ll need your cooperation.
After the modifications are done, you have to use it strictly in the mode I set up. No messing with the parameters!"
"Okay, okay, you got it! You’re the tech guru. I’ll do whatever you say!"
Sun Yang nodded eagerly and immediately handed over the gun. "I’m counting on you, master!"
Bai Lin took the Pulse Gun, meticulously inspecting its frame and Energy Core. He asked casually, "When you fire, is your grip uneven? Your hand seems to shift slightly to the right when you shoot."
"How did you know?"
Sun Yang was stunned for a moment. "I thought it felt a little off, but I never paid it much mind!"