"What's the environment in the mining area like?" Han Ruoxi asked Bai Lin.
"Complex. It's mostly abandoned mine shafts and some collapsed areas," Bai Lin said, looking at the data on the terminal.
"If the Insect Race built a hive there, they've definitely modified the terrain further."
"In other words, we'll likely be facing terrain traps," Shen Qiuyue added.
"Then we'll have to be extra careful," Sun Yang said, leaning back in his seat.
"This place is clearly the Insect Race's home turf."
"So what if it's their home turf?" Li Chang'an said coldly.
"Doesn't matter whose turf it is. The objective is the same—complete the mission."
"Understood!" everyone answered in unison.
The transport vehicle gradually came to a stop. After disembarking, the Insect Hunter Squad began advancing toward the mining area.
"Everyone, be careful. The mining area is probably crawling with Insect Race sentries," Li Chang'an said in a low voice, raising his Saw Chain Sword and signaling for the team to maintain formation.
The air was thick with the smell of mine dust. All around was silent, with only the echo of their footsteps in the empty space.
"This place... is seriously creepy," Sun Yang muttered under his breath.
"I feel like a whole swarm of the Insect Race is going to jump out at any second."
"Shut up and focus!" Li Chang'an ordered in a low voice.
Suddenly, a faint crawling sound came from up ahead.
"Movement!" Han Ruoxi warned quickly, arcs of electricity gathering in her hands.
"Take cover!" With a wave of his hand, Li Chang'an had the squad duck behind some nearby cover, their eyes fixed on the direction of the sound.
A few small members of the Insect Race crawled out from the depths of the mine shaft. They moved slowly down the passage, clearly unaware of the Insect Hunter Squad's presence.
"They're a patrol," Shen Qiuyue said in a low voice.
"What do we do? Take them out?"
"No need to waste Energy," Li Chang'an said, shaking his head.
"Let them pass. We'll keep moving."
...
After the insects had crawled far away, the squad continued deeper into the mining area.
The surrounding mine shafts grew narrower, and a damp, rotting stench filled the air.
"This smell is disgusting," Sun Yang said, covering his nose.
"The Insect Race's hive must be nearby."
"Quiet," Han Ruoxi reminded him in a low voice.
"Don't give away our position."
"Heat signatures ahead," Bai Lin suddenly said in a low voice.
"Approximately fifty meters away."
"Everyone, prepare for combat!" Li Chang'an swiftly drew his Saw Chain Sword.
"Move out!"
The Insect Hunter Squad held their breath, carefully approaching the heat source.
The walls of the mine shaft were covered in a slime secreted by the insects, which gave off an eerie glow. The stench in the air grew more pungent.
"These heat signatures could be a larval nest," Bai Lin said quietly, fingers flying across the terminal.
"The number is unconfirmed. There might be adult guards."
"If there really are adults, we need to make this quick," Han Ruoxi said, a trace of tension in her voice. The electric arcs in her hands were already glowing brightly.
"Ruo Xi, calm down." Li Chang'an glanced back at her.
"Don't release your Energy yet. Wait for my command."
"Understood." Han Ruoxi nodded and forced herself to take a deep breath.
"I have a feeling it's not just larvae up ahead. The smell of adults is too strong," Sun Yang said, tightening his grip on his Pulse Gun, his eyes scanning their surroundings warily.
"We should have a backup plan."
"The backup plan is you not dragging us down," Shen Qiuyue said coldly, simultaneously adjusting her High-Energy Sword to its optimal output mode.
At the end of the mine shaft was a wide, open area. The ground was covered in a thick layer of cocoons, and in the center was a pile of dozens of insect eggs. Each one emitted a faint green glow, as if the life within was slowly incubating.
"Insect eggs!" Han Ruoxi exclaimed in a low voice.
"It's definitely a larval nest," Bai Lin confirmed, scanning quickly.
"But that's not all—heat signatures show there might be guards hidden in the caves on either side of the shaft."
"This place is even more disgusting than I imagined," Sun Yang said with a frown.
"Can we just blow up all these eggs in one go?"
"Don't make a move yet," Li Chang'an said, holding up a hand to signal.
"First, confirm the number and position of the guards."
Just then, a deep crawling sound echoed from further down the mine shaft. Immediately after, a massive Insect Race warrior slowly crawled out.
Its carapace glinted with a dark red luster in the faint light of the mine shaft. Its sharp forelimbs scraped lightly against the wall, producing a harsh, grating sound.
"I knew there'd be an adult," Sun Yang cursed under his breath.
"Captain, how do we deal with this thing?"
"Stay calm. Don't move." Li Chang'an stared at the insect warrior. It didn't seem to have noticed the squad's presence and was slowly patrolling.
"Bai Lin, can you jam its senses?" Li Chang'an asked in a low voice.
"I can try, but it won't last more than five minutes," Bai Lin replied, fingers tapping rapidly on the terminal.
"Initiating jammer."
A few seconds later, the insect warrior's movements became noticeably sluggish. It seemed to look around in a daze.
"It worked!" Bai Lin said in a low voice.
"But we have limited time. We have to move fast."
"Alright. Ruo Xi, you're responsible for destroying the eggs. Qiuyue, cover her. Sun Yang and I will take care of the adult. Bai Lin, monitor our surroundings for any movement," Li Chang'an quickly assigned tasks.
"Understood!" The team moved out immediately.
Han Ruoxi approached the eggs and unleashed a powerful arc of electricity from her hands, instantly blasting several of them to pieces. Green liquid splattered everywhere, making the stench in the air even more nauseating.
"Faster!" Li Chang'an commanded as he charged the insect warrior, brandishing his Saw Chain Sword.
The insect warrior noticed their movements and let out a sharp shriek, sweeping its sharp forelimbs toward Li Chang'an.
Li Chang'an sidestepped the attack, his Saw Chain Sword striking the insect's forelimb with precision, creating a harsh clang of metal on carapace.
"Its carapace is too tough!" Sun Yang shouted while firing.
"My Pulse Gun is just making sparks!"
"Aim for the joints! Its weak points are the joints!" Li Chang'an shouted as a reminder, while nimbly circling to the insect's side and thrusting his sword into its abdomen.
The insect warrior shrieked in pain, flailing its forelimbs wildly in an attempt to break free from Li Chang'an's attack.
"Finish it quickly!" Han Ruoxi yelled, glancing back while destroying the eggs.
"Don't rush, we can handle it!" Li Chang'an said, yanking out his Saw Chain Sword and hacking at the warrior's other forelimb.
Sun Yang seized the opportunity, adjusted his angle, and fired a precise beam from his Pulse Gun that struck the joint at the insect's neck.
The insect warrior's movements stiffened for a moment, then it crashed to the ground.
"Got it!" Sun Yang said, panting.
"Ruo Xi, what's the status on the eggs?" Li Chang'an asked, looking back.
"About a dozen left!" Han Ruoxi's forehead was beaded with sweat, but she remained focused, unleashing arcs of electricity.
"Hurry, two minutes left!" Bai Lin said nervously, watching the countdown on the terminal.
"The jammer's effect is about to end!"
Han Ruoxi gritted her teeth and sped up.
Just as the last egg was completely destroyed, the jamming effect wore off. More shrieks echoed from deep within the mine shaft.
"Not good, more of the Insect Race are coming!" Bai Lin shouted as a warning.
"All units, retreat!" Li Chang'an ordered decisively.
"Don't get bogged down in a fight, move!"
The squad retreated quickly. The shrieks behind them grew closer, and they could faintly see several insect warriors pursuing them from the depths of the shaft.
"Captain, they're catching up!" Sun Yang yelled as he ran.
"Should we counter-attack?"
"Keep running, maintain formation!" Li Chang'an said in a grim voice without looking back.
"These insects are just trying to protect their hive. Once we create enough distance, they'll give up the chase."
Sure enough, as the squad burst out of the mine shaft and into an open area, the pursuing insect warriors gradually stopped. They shrieked for a moment before turning and returning to their hive.
"Hah... we finally lost them," Sun Yang said, plopping onto the ground and gasping for air.
"Captain, does this count as a successful mission?"
"A temporary success, but our intel is still incomplete," Li Chang'an said, his gaze cold as he looked back at the mining area.
"We're returning to base. Give this data to the intel department for analysis."
"Understood!" everyone answered in unison.