Chapter 348: Chapter 123: Reconnaissance by Coincidence (3rd Update)
Spider Car jolted wildly on the Red Plain.
This time, as Mu Fan set out with the Special Combat Team, he no longer felt the novelty and tension, only a calm resolve toward the battle.
Teams number one and two simultaneously launched their attack.
Zhang Shaotang’s Speed Killing Team, a joint strike team, was positioned several kilometers away from Mu Fan and his group.
The two teams advanced on oblique flanks supporting each other.
Each team’s sortie lasted merely two hours, ensuring both the sustainability of their exoskeleton batteries and their ammunition.
In zone A2, Wolf and Deer wore their respective professional Combat Light Armors.
They had no fire support, only equipped with short-range jet propulsion and corresponding tools.
For instance, the reconnaissance equipment in Wolf’s hands and the sapper gear Deer carried.
Seeing the route of progress, Mu Fan couldn’t help but ask, “Captain, is our route the same as last time?”
Holding his assault rifle, Luo Jianjin nodded, “Yes, each team generally builds along their own path. Last time we cleared the area, placed the monitors, and since no biological signals returned, it proved that the Zegs were completely eradicated there. So, this time, we’re extending along the safe supply line. The Major and the Expeditionary Army agreed that once we advance another ten kilometers, we can establish the fourth base.”
They soon saw the familiar river upfront, a border defined by the quietly flowing river between red grass and green jungle.
The Spider Car did not slow down at all.
“Hold tight,” Deer shouted excitedly, pressing down hard on the pedal.
The high-chassis Spider Car directly smashed into the flowing river.
“Splash!” Water splashed onto their armor, flowing down the grooves.
“Awesome, haha,” White Hair exclaimed excitedly, lifting his goggles.
Mu Fan gripped his Alloy Broadsword tightly, constantly aware of his surroundings.
This time, he carried two laser long spears. The machine gun module below his hands was removed and replaced with a melee-enhanced module.
The weight of that Alloy Broadsword was over 170 kilograms!
Lifting it was a completely different concept from a normal chop, but with the aid of the Exoskeleton Armor, Mu Fan could use half the effort to better perform slashing movements.
Spider Chariot’s exceptional off-road performance couldn’t go unmentioned, and after Deer reminded them to brace themselves once more, the vehicle compressed its four wheels and leapt!
Carrying six people, the Spider Chariot straddled the deepest part of the river.
The thick titanium springs compressed to their limit and then released the accumulated force.
The Spider Chariot jumped twice consecutively and landed directly on the opposite riverbank.
White Hair gave a thumbs up at this maneuver, “Brother Deer, I bow to that skill. Even I, self-proclaimed as the car god, have never pulled that off.”
Deer chuckled and, showing off a bit, rapidly accelerated and changed directions, delivering the passengers to a depressed area at wind-like speed.
With a squeak, the Spider Chariot steadied itself and stopped firmly.
“We’re here!”
The group jumped down, Mu Fan looked around at the familiar scenery. Wasn’t this the area they left last time!?
Luo Jianjin explained, “We start advancing from here, today’s mission is three kilometers! I’ll take the twelve o’clock direction, Wolf will take the two to three o’clock, Tracy will provide fire support within two kilometers, and Deer will still be in charge of laying mines protecting the Spider Chariot. As for you two…”
Looking at the two new soldiers, Bearded directly said, “This time, you two will be responsible for the nine to ten o’clock direction, any problems?”
Mu Fan slapped his metallic scabbard on his waist side, “No problem!”
Hearing that he and Mu Fan were teaming up for the mission, White Hair clapped his chest, “Captain, the two of us together, one close and one far, no problem!”
“Good! Sync time, mission duration one hour, advancement three kilometers! After completion, you can return.”
“Hunting Tigers—”
“Go!”
This time, both Mu Fan and Yin Shuai wore exoskeletons, making them appear more like real soldiers.
Hearing Luo Jianjin’s arrangement, Mu Fan felt a secret joy, as the nine o’clock direction was exactly where he had killed that jet tiger insect before.
“You follow me, cover with gunfire.”
Mu Fan turned and told Yin Shuai.
“Understood!” With a gesture, White Hair pulled down his goggles, looked through the orange-tinted lenses, and Mu Fan shook his head—his teammate was indeed… too flamboyant.
Flamboyant in any situation!
The two dashed out one after the other.
The members of the Tiger Hunting Team exchanged glances and simultaneously burst into laughter.
“These two youngsters!”
“Ha ha, they are so ambitious.”
“Let’s go too.”
The members of the Tiger Hunting Team also left the spot.
Only a rustling noise was left behind, which was Deer quietly setting up the minefield.
…
“Mu Fan, why are you running so fast?” Mu Fan, wearing exoskeleton armor, sprinted through the forest at a speed that made Yin Shuai feel desperate.
This guy must be part monkey!
“Follow me, I want to find Zeg’s real nest.”
“Isn’t this a temporary stronghold? We cleared it last time.”
“No,” Mu Fan shook his head, “there was a guard who escaped and died halfway. I didn’t continue tracking, but I guess there might be something here.”
“Damn, then why didn’t you just say so and go with Captain Luo?”
Mu Fan waved his hand, “I’m just speculating, so this is just an exploration. Are you coming with me or not?”
“I’m coming! Who am I afraid of?” White Hair raised his neck, holding up his loaded rapid-fire machine guns with a smug face, “You haven’t seen my real skills yet. I’ll show you what a human Gatling looks like when I get the chance! Ha ha ha ha~”
He started boasting again…
Mu Fan sighed helplessly, sped up, and soon reached where the guard had died last time.
Hmm, the carapace is gone?
Mu Fan looked at the empty ground. Besides some areas covered with broken branches and leaves and the traces of previous corrosion, the jet tiger insect’s carapace and the guard’s carapace were both missing!
“Be careful.” Mu Fan advised as he began to slow down.
Because what lay ahead was uncharted territory.
“Mu Fan, I’ve taken control of the fire control system, be careful. Remember, if you see a fungus blanket, retreat immediately!”
Black’s serious tone made Mu Fan nod slightly in response.
The jungle was eerily quiet, and in this forest, not a single bird or insect could be heard, only the occasional patchy starlight shining through the branches onto the ground.
“Slow down a bit more and keep a distance of over fifty meters from me; I can handle the jet tiger insects more easily if they appear,” Mu Fan said, turning his head.
The alloy broadsword on his waist was half unsheathed, ready to be drawn at any moment.
Mu Fan reached back with his right hand and grabbed a laser long spear.
Observing his highly tense state, White Hair muttered, “We haven’t even seen the insects yet; why are you so cautious?”
But he still kept his distance and stayed fully armed.
Their footsteps on the leaves made a crunching sound.
By now, they had been walking for about thirty minutes, and not only had they seen no insects, but they hadn’t spot a single bird either.
“Mu Fan, aren’t we being a bit too cautious?” White Hair finally couldn’t help speaking up.
Even Mu Fan began to feel perhaps they were being overly anxious. Maybe there wasn’t a nest in this area they were scanning.
Ahead was another low slope, beside which stood a massive Star Rong Tree.
“Shall we have some water before continuing?” White Hair spoke up again.
Spiritual Perception detected no threats or signs of any living creatures.
Mu Fan nodded, walked over to the base of the Star Rong Tree, and sat down.
He reached for the water bottle on his leg armor with his left hand while bracing himself with his right hand.
He sat at the periphery of the tree’s massive root, right next to a three to four-meter high slope, which was just a jump away for them.
Quite comfortable, Mu Fan gripped an extending root to adjust his sitting position.
Hmm, why does my hand feel a bit slippery?
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