A month's time, amidst the ceaseless clamor and high-intensity training of Shengjing Underground City, slipped away like sand through fingers.
Under the leadership of acting Team Leader Lin Chen (Ling Chen), the Ashes Squad underwent earth-shattering changes. It was no longer the scattered, disunited group of individuals it once was.
Under Ling Chen's almost 苛刻 training regimen, his precise tactical guidance, and the invisible yet pervasive pressure and guidance of the Soul Jade Physique's cold will, the team was like an iron embryo thrown into a forge, enduring painful hammering and tempering.
Han Feng's (Gray Claw's) arrogance was suppressed by repeated precise tactical arrangements and merciless real-world combat.
His Shadow Leopard Ambush became more lethal, but he also learned to act within the team framework, no longer blindly rushing forward.
Shi Lei's (Gray Rock's) Giant Bear Strength was tempered to be even more solid through countless simulated confrontations. He became the team's most reliable front-line barrier, executing Ling Chen's commands flawlessly.
Under Ling Chen's guidance, Su Qing's (Flowing Wind's) control over wind elements significantly improved in precision and energy efficiency. Her Wind Barrier and Gust Acceleration became crucial safeguards for the team in complex environments.
Chen Mo's (Gray Shield's) use of the Energy Shield became more proficient. He timed the switching between single-target and group shields perfectly, becoming key to the team's survival.
Wang Yuan's (Gray Sniff's)靈嗅感知 became more acute under Ling Chen's deliberate "cultivation," providing early warnings multiple times in simulated missions and preventing the team's annihilation.
On the surface, the Ashes Squad was revitalized, working in perfect coordination and with high morale.
They completed several low-risk missions issued by the Guild, accumulating some contribution points and gradually gaining some reputation within the Guild.
Associate Chairman Tieshan was quite satisfied with Ling Chen's performance, expressing his approval on several public occasions.
However, beneath this harmonious facade, undercurrents never ceased to surge.
Han Feng and Shi Lei, the two team members with the deepest feelings for Old K Captain and the most distinct personalities, remained thorns in Ling Chen's side.
Although Han Feng obeyed orders, the deep-seated arrogance in his eyes and his subtle hostility towards Ling Chen never disappeared.
Shi Lei was a man of deep loyalty and righteousness. He was grateful for Ling Chen's training, but every time Old K Captain was mentioned, the worry and loyalty in his eyes made Ling Chen feel a hint of an uncontrollable threat.
These two were the only remaining members of the Ashes Squad whose personal loyalty to Old K Captain might be higher than their loyalty to him, Lin Chen.
They were like ticking time bombs buried within the team, ready to become stumbling blocks to Ling Chen's plans at any moment, whether Old K Captain awakened or at some critical juncture.
Moreover, a month had passed, and Old K Captain was about to wake up.
They must be eliminated!
But it couldn't be an overt elimination! That would arouse Associate Chairman Tieshan's suspicion, and even the Security Department's re-intervention!
A perfect accident was needed!
An accident where they bravely sacrificed themselves during a mission to cover their teammates or due to their own mistakes!
The opportunity soon arrived!
Hunter Guild Mission Release Hall.
A new mission brief scrolled across the giant holographic screen:
【Mission ID: C-73】
【Mission Level: Medium Risk】
【Mission Location: Outer Domain Buffer Zone, Abandoned Mine Shaft No. 7】
【Mission Objective: Clear the mutated creature groups inhabiting the mine shaft (primarily Bone Eater Realm early-stage 'Burrowing Rats' and a small number of 'Rock Armor Scorpions'), recover Energy Core No. 3 left by the previous exploration team (signal source confirmed)】
【Mission Requirements: Clear all threat targets, ensure safe recovery of the Energy Core】
【Mission Reward: 500 Contribution Points, 200 units of Crystal Cores (team)】
【Recommended Team: Energy Condensation Stage Lv.3 or above, capable of underground combat】
"Medium risk... clearance mission... recover Energy Core..."
Ling Chen's deep dark eyes scanned the mission information, and the Soul Jade Physique's cold will instantly completed the assessment.
"Mission location, abandoned mine shaft, complex environment, limited visibility... conducive to creating accidents... target creatures... Bone Eater Realm early-stage... controllable threat... but what if an unexpectedly powerful individual appears or the environment suddenly deteriorates..."
A perfect stage!
"Ashes Squad! Accept mission!"
Ling Chen's voice was calm and firm! He walked to the counter and swiped his acting Team Leader authority to accept the mission!
"Team Leader! What mission is it this time?" Han Feng leaned over, his eyes gleaming with a warlike light! His Shadow Leopard form made him eager for stealth hunting in the underground environment!
"Clear an abandoned mine shaft and recover an Energy Core."
Ling Chen shared the mission brief with his team.
"The targets are mainly Burrowing Rats and Rock Armor Scorpions, early-stage Bone Eater Realm, not a big threat. But the mine shaft environment is complex, so we need to be cautious."
"Haha! Finally, a decent mission!" Han Feng licked his lips!
"Those rats and scorpions! Leave them to me!"
"I'll be in front!" Shi Lei said in a booming voice! His Giant Bear Strength could provide a huge advantage in confined spaces!
Su Qing, Chen Mo, and Wang Yuan also nodded, indicating they were ready. Tang Yinmeng stood behind Ling Chen, a barely perceptible worry in her molten gold eyes. She instinctively felt a sense of unease.
The corners of Ling Chen's mouth curled into a cold, imperceptible arc.
Depart!
The heavy alloy gate of Shengjing Underground City slowly opened!
A cold air, mixed with dust, rust, and a faint smell of blood, rushed out!
The Ashes Squad, riding in the Guild-issued modified armored off-road vehicle, drove into the dimly lit, perilous Outer Domain Buffer Zone!
Destination: Abandoned Mine Shaft No. 7!
They drove in silence.
The armored vehicle bumped along the rugged road, riddled with potholes and the skeletons of mutated beasts.
Occasionally, a few scattered mutated creatures attempted to attack, but they were easily dealt with by the automatic turrets on the vehicle's roof.
The atmosphere inside the vehicle was somewhat heavy, with the team members checking their equipment and adjusting their states.
Ling Chen closed his eyes to rest, but the Soul Jade Physique's cold will was operating at high speed!
He was recalling the mine shaft's structural diagram! Planning the optimal location for the "accident"! And how to subtly leave a "bait"!
The entrance to Abandoned Mine Shaft No. 7 was like a giant, man-eating monster's maw, embedded in the desolate mountain wall.
Rusty mine cart tracks and broken lighting equipment were scattered at the entrance. The air was filled with a strong musty smell and a faint, almost imperceptible scent of blood!
"Get out! Prepare to enter!" Ling Chen commanded!
The squad quickly dismounted! Forming a standard combat formation!
Shi Lei (Gray Rock) took the lead! Han Feng (Gray Claw) entered his Shadow Leopard form, blending into the shadows of the entrance!
Su Qing (Flowing Wind) provided support from the middle!
Chen Mo (Gray Shield) and Wang Yuan (Gray Sniff) followed closely!
Ling Chen (Lin Chen) and Tang Yinmeng brought up the rear!
"Gray Sniff! Recon!" Ling Chen whispered!
Wang Yuan (Gray Sniff) immediately closed his eyes! His nostrils flared rapidly!
"Inside the cave... there's... a large amount... of Burrowing Rat... scent... mixed with... Rock Armor Scorpion... acidic smell... and also... a very faint... very strange... smell of blood... very... fresh... like... it was just left..."
Wang Yuan's voice carried a hint of doubt!
"Energy Core signal... is... deep in the mine shaft... approximately... five hundred meters... turn left... at the end of the main shaft!"
"Strange smell of blood?" Ling Chen frowned slightly! "Raise your guard! It might be other mutated creatures! Gray Claw! Scout ahead! Be careful to conceal yourself!"
"Understood!" Han Feng's low voice came from the shadows! A blurry dark shadow instantly darted into the depths of the pitch-black mine shaft!
The squad cautiously followed! The interior of the mine shaft was completely dark!
Only the faint beams of the tactical spotlights on the team members' helmets illuminated the dusty, rubble-strewn tunnel ahead! The air was filled with a suffocating sense of oppression!
"Screech—!!!"
Suddenly! A sharp shriek came from ahead! Followed by the sound of claws scratching rock and Han Feng's low growl!
"Target spotted! Quite a few! Prepare for battle!" Han Feng's voice rang out through the communicator!
"Gray Rock! Push forward! Flowing Wind! Suppress with fire! Gray Shield! Prepare shields!" Ling Chen calmly ordered!
Shi Lei roared! His body instantly expanded! Rock-like muscles bulged! He charged forward like a human tank!
Su Qing waved her hands! Several condensed wind blades whistled out! Precisely striking the tide-like swarm of Burrowing Rats, the size of domestic dogs, with exposed fangs and blood-red eyes, that poured out of the darkness!
Puff puff puff—!!!
The wind blades were like the scythe of death! Instantly slicing the first few Burrowing Rats into pieces!
But more Burrowing Rats surged forward fearlessly! Their sharp claws frantically scratched at Shi Lei's rock-like skin! Emitting a harsh grating sound!
"Body of The Boulder!" Shi Lei roared! Enduring the attacks! His massive bear paw slammed down! Crushing several Burrowing Rats into pulp!
"Earth Stomp!"
Rumble—!!!
The ground vibrated violently! A shockwave spread out! Sending the surrounding Burrowing Rats tumbling!
"Group Shield!"
Chen Mo pushed his hands forward! A huge, faint golden Energy Shield instantly unfurled!
Enveloping the front of the squad! Blocking the subsequent wave of rats and a few Rock Armor Scorpions, covered in thick rock-hard carapaces and with glowing blue stingers at their tails, that crawled down the rock wall!
The battle erupted instantly! In the narrow mine shaft! Energy beams! Wind blades! Claws! Stingers! All intertwined! The scene was chaotic and fierce!
Ling Chen stood at the back! His deep dark eyes calmly observed the battlefield!
The Soul Jade Physique's cold will was like the most precise computer! Analyzing every detail! Assessing the timing!
"Gray Claw! Report the situation ahead!" Ling Chen asked through the communicator!
"The main shaft is blocked by a large number of Rock Armor Scorpions! They're guarding something glowing! It should be the Energy Core!"
Han Feng's voice carried a hint of breathlessness and excitement!
"There are... a lot! I... can't get through alone!"
"Gray Rock! Flowing Wind! Suppress the rat swarm! Gray Shield! Maintain shields! Gray Sniff! Watch the rear!" Ling Chen quickly ordered!
"Gray Claw! Stay hidden! Wait for my command! Yinmeng! Follow me! We'll go support Gray Claw!"
He took Tang Yinmeng! His figure flashed! Like a ghost, he darted through the chaotic battlefield! Rushing towards the depths of the mine shaft!
"Team Leader! Be careful!" Shi Lei shouted from behind! He struggled to resist the impact of the rat swarm! Buying time for Ling Chen!
Ling Chen and Tang Yinmeng quickly caught up with Han Feng, who was lurking in the shadows! Around the corner of the main shaft ahead! Dozens of larger Rock Armor Scorpions were densely sprawled!
Their thick carapaces gleamed under the tactical spotlights!
Their tail stingers were raised high! They were vigilantly guarding a metal box emitting a faint blue light at the end of the shaft—Energy Core No. 3!
"Team Leader! What should we do? Assault?"
Han Feng's eyes gleamed with bloodlust! His Shadow Leopard form made him restless!
"A direct assault might cause casualties!" Ling Chen's gaze swept around!
"Gray Claw! You're fast! See that narrow ventilation shaft on the left? Go around through there! Try to draw their attention from the side! Yinmeng and I will feign an attack from the front! Create a diversion! Then you find an opportunity to strike! Seize the Energy Core!"
"Ventilation shaft?" Han Feng glanced at the dusty, narrow pipe, less than a meter in diameter! His brows furrowed! "It might... be dangerous inside!"
"This is the fastest way!" Ling Chen's tone was unquestionable! "Mission first! Don't worry! Yinmeng and I will cover you! Once you get the Energy Core, retreat immediately! Don't get bogged down in combat!"
"...Okay!" Han Feng hesitated for a moment! But thinking of the mission reward and Ling Chen's assurance! A flicker of determination flashed in his eyes! "I'm going!"
In his Shadow Leopard form! His body was like liquid! He silently slipped into the dark, narrow ventilation shaft! Disappearing from everyone's sight!
"Yinmeng! Prepare!" Ling Chen whispered to Tang Yinmeng! At the same time! In the depths of his profound dark eyes! A chilling killing intent flashed!
Now!
Using the light from the tactical spotlight! He slightly turned his body! Blocking Tang Yinmeng's line of sight! The nail on his right index finger! In an unnoticeable instant! Became long and sharp, and he fiercely sliced it across his left palm!
Chh—!!!
A tiny trace! Yet containing immense vital essence and the cold will imprint of dark red blood instantly seeped out!
The Soul Jade Physique's primordial essence blood, and the aura exclusive to mutated and ability users!
Ling Chen's finger, extremely subtly, lightly smeared it on an inconspicuous protruding rock near the entrance of the ventilation shaft!
That trace of essence blood, emitting a fatal allure, instantly seeped into the crevices of the rock!
Buzz—!!!
An extremely faint! Yet as clear as a lighthouse in the dark night, life energy fluctuation instantly spread out! Carrying an irresistible attraction for all bloodthirsty mutated creatures!
"Move!" Ling Chen shouted! At the same time! The Mud Swamp Domain instantly activated! A heavy, viscous force field enveloped some of the Rock Armor Scorpions ahead! Instantly slowing their movements!
Tang Yinmeng immediately activated All Things Summoning! Attempting to communicate with the rocks inside the mine shaft! To create small-scale collapses to interfere with the scorpion swarm!
At the same time!
An unexpected change occurred!
"Roar—!!!"
A low! Ferocious! Roar, filled with endless greed and destructive desire, suddenly erupted from the originally calm rock layers deep within the mine shaft!
Rumble—!!!
The rock wall near the ventilation shaft entrance! Suddenly exploded! Rubble flew! Dust billowed!
A colossal beast, unimaginably huge! Almost filling the entire mine shaft! Suddenly burst out from the shattered rock wall!
Its entire body was covered in thick armor, gleaming with a metallic luster like obsidian! Eight jointed legs, like steel pillars! Deeply pierced into the ground! Supporting its massive body, like a small truck!
Most terrifying was its hideous mouthparts! Like giant hydraulic pliers! Opening and closing! Emitting a grating metallic sound that made one's teeth ache! Corrosive, viscous saliva dripped from the edges of its mouthparts! Hitting the ground with a sizzling sound!
Its blood-red compound eyes! Were fixed on the rock near the ventilation shaft entrance, where the essence blood's scent lingered! And on Han Feng, who had just entered the shaft and hadn't yet gone deep!
Hundred Forms Realm mid-stage! Mutated Beast—Bloodfang Wolf Spider! An extremely rare! Top predator that only operates in deep mineral veins! Feeding on energy-rich minerals and powerful creatures! Possessing an almost insane craving for high-purity life energy!