Sun Yang gasped for breath. "Captain, if you make me take on another mission like this, I’m going to have to write my will!"
"A will won’t do you any good!"
Han Ruoxi said coldly, "All you need to remember is to complete the mission and stay alive!"
"Alright, alright, I get it!"
Sun Yang waved his hand dismissively. "Captain, you think there’ll be more missions like this?"
"Probably even more in the future."
Li Chang’an leaned back against his seat and closed his eyes. "Get ready. This is just the beginning."
The armored vehicle jolted along the road back to the base, its cabin filled with weary gasps.
The Insect Hunter Squad had just endured a high-intensity battle. Everyone was drenched in sweat and covered in dust, with barely enough strength to speak.
"This mission was insane!"
Sun Yang slumped in his seat, fanning his sweaty face with his hand. "Captain, do you think Command is deliberately trying to work us to death? Can’t the Insect Race be a little gentler and give us a chance to breathe?"
"If the Insect Race were gentle, we’d have been wiped out long ago!"
Han Ruoxi leaned against the cabin wall. Her eyes were weary, but her tone was still sharp. "If you’re really that tired, you can apply for retirement. Then you wouldn’t have to keep complaining about it!"
"Like hell I’m retiring!"
Sun Yang’s eyes widened. "I’m the squad’s fire support specialist! How would you guys manage without me?"
"Without you, we’d probably be a lot quieter,"
Shen Qiuyue chimed in softly, wiping her Dueling Sword.
"Sister Qiuyue, that hurts!"
Sun Yang clutched his chest, feigning a wounded expression. "You have to admit, without me, your efficiency at killing insects would drop by at least half!"
"That’s what you think!"
Han Ruoxi rolled her eyes and looked up at Li Chang’an. "Captain, the Insect Race was clearly smarter this time than before. Have they developed a complete tactical system?"
Li Chang’an opened his eyes, his tone calm. "It’s highly likely.
This swarm had a clear division of labor. The attack sequence and strategy didn’t seem random.
That suggests there’s a higher-intelligence command unit behind them. Our next mission might be to deal with that commander directly!"
"A commander?"
Sun Yang frowned. "You mean there’s something like an Insect King among them?"
"Not necessarily an Insect King, but definitely a core control unit."
Bai Lin put down his terminal, his voice cool. "Judging from the sample data, the neural network connections of this Insect Race are very complex. There might be some kind of hive-mind command mechanism we don’t yet understand."
"Just hearing about it makes my skin crawl!"
Sun Yang rubbed his forehead. "If there is an Insect King, wouldn’t we get wiped out if we run into it?"
"Whether we get wiped out or win is up to us."
Li Chang’an leaned against his seat, his voice serene. "Instead of worrying about the outcome, we should focus on figuring out how to complete the mission and stay alive."
A brief silence fell over the cabin, with only the roar of the engine echoing in their ears.
When the armored vehicle returned to the base, the squad members dragged their exhausted bodies out. Just as they reached their dorm, they saw Wei Zhuang standing there, hands clasped behind his back, his cold gaze sweeping over each of them.
"Mission complete?"
he asked, his voice as deep as rolling thunder.
"Yes, sir!"
Li Chang’an nodded, his voice steady.
"You completed the mission and you still look half-dead?"
Wei Zhuang’s tone was tinged with disdain. "Don’t think that just because the mission is over, everything is fine. You all have a long way to go!"
"Instructor, we just got back from that hellhole. Can’t you show a little compassion?"
Sun Yang couldn’t help but complain. "Look at us, we’re filthy and haven’t even had a sip of water yet!"
"Compassion?"
Wei Zhuang sneered. "On the battlefield, will the Insect Race show you compassion? Sun Yang, if you face the next mission with this attitude, I guarantee you won’t even get the chance to get filthy!"
Sun Yang was rebuked into silence and could only shrink back and stand to the side.
"Li Chang’an!"
Wei Zhuang turned to him. "I’ll report your performance on this mission to Command.
But you must understand that the upcoming missions will only be more dangerous. Get yourselves in order. Don’t let me see anyone dropping the ball!"
"Understood!"
Li Chang’an nodded, his gaze firm.
"Good."
Wei Zhuang turned and walked away, his retreating figure looking exceptionally cold and hard.
Back in the dorm, Sun Yang immediately flopped onto the sofa and let out a long sigh. "I’m so beat! That instructor is truly cold-blooded. We’re about to fall apart, and he’s still looking at us with that disgusted expression!"
"He’s not wrong."
Shen Qiuyue said in a low voice from her corner. "Completing the mission is just the first step. The challenges ahead are even harder.
We have to stay sharp."
"Sister Qiuyue, you’re such a downer!"
Sun Yang looked aggrieved. "We don’t even get a chance to catch our breath. How are we supposed to stay sharp?"
"That’s your problem."
Han Ruoxi scoffed. "Whose fault is it that you don’t work hard enough normally?"
"Miss Han, don’t always pick on me!"
Sun Yang sat up straight. "I didn’t miss a single shot today! I kept up full-auto fire for half an hour. That wasn’t easy, you know!"
"Fine, I admit it. You didn’t drag us down today."
Han Ruoxi put down her Electric Gloves, offering him a rare comment that was almost a compliment.
"Whoa, did Miss Han just praise me?"
Sun Yang’s eyes widened dramatically. "This is a momentous occasion! Captain, you have to write this down!"
"Cut the crap."
Li Chang’an set down his Saw Chain Sword and sat at the table. "Rest for one hour, then we’ll meet to discuss the next mission."
"Captain, we have to discuss it now?"
Sun Yang’s face fell. "Can’t we get a little more rest?"
"You’ve had enough rest."
Li Chang’an shot him a glance. "The Insect Race won’t wait for us to get a full night’s sleep.
Keep complaining, and I’ll add extra training."
"Alright, you’re the Captain. You call the shots."
Sun Yang’s shoulders slumped, and he obediently shut his mouth.
An hour later, the Insect Hunter Squad assembled again. Li Chang’an placed the latest mission briefing from Command on the table.
"According to the latest intel, the Insect Race has established a new Insect Hive deep in the Vortex Zone. It might be their command center.
Our mission is to destroy their outer defenses and clear a path for the main force to assault the primary hive!"
he said, pointing to a map in the briefing.
"The outer defenses?"
Han Ruoxi frowned. "If that’s the command center, the number of insects on the perimeter will definitely be much greater than what we’ve faced before."
"Correct."
Li Chang’an nodded. "But our objective is only to clear the outer swarm and ensure the research teams can enter safely.
The key is coordination, not a head-on fight."
"Sounds hard enough as it is."
Sun Yang rubbed his chin. "Captain, this mission sounds a little unreasonable. There are so few of us and so many of them. How are we supposed to fight?"
"Our numbers aren’t the problem. The key is strategy."
Li Chang’an looked at Bai Lin. "Bai Lin, your task tomorrow is to monitor the Insect Race’s signal network in real-time. Make sure we can track their movements."
"No problem."
Bai Lin nodded slightly.
"Han Ruoxi, the Electric Grid is key.
Your job is to block the Insect Race’s attack routes and make sure we don’t get surrounded!"
Li Chang’an continued to assign tasks.
"Understood."
Han Ruoxi’s reply was short and firm.
"Shen Qiuyue, protect Bai Lin and take care of any close-range threats."
"I know."
Shen Qiuyue nodded.
"Sun Yang!"
Li Chang’an turned to him. "Your job is suppressive fire. Focus on protecting our rear, and don’t let the swarm break through our defensive line."
"Don’t worry, Captain!"
Sun Yang wore a serious expression. "I promise I won’t drop the ball!"
Li Chang’an looked around at everyone, his voice calm but firm. "Tomorrow’s mission will be difficult, but we have to complete it.
Are you ready?"
"Ready!"
The squad members answered in unison, their eyes filled with resolute fighting spirit.
That night in the dorm, the members of the Insect Hunter Squad were busy preparing for the next day’s mission.
While wiping his Pulse Gun, Sun Yang couldn’t help but mutter, "Captain, I really think tomorrow’s mission is a long shot.
Just a few of us holding off an entire outer defensive line for the Insect Race... that’s no joke.
Do you think Command’s expectations for us are too high? Couldn’t they have sent more people?"
"More people?"