After Lu Luo returned from the Exotic Species corpse, Gu Fangyi's small team had some disagreements about how to approach Lu Luo.
"He's coming over. What should we do? Should we greet him now?" Wang Zheng asked.
Liu Ting disagreed. We're all classmates, and he wasn't unreasonable just now. Why bother greeting him and making ourselves look weak? If Lu Luo isn't an ordinary person either, then I'm the only ordinary one left in the team.
Zhou Kai certainly didn't want to greet Lu Luo; he had just lost face and wasn't about to embarrass himself further by going over now.
Gu Fangyi and Chu Qi both remained silent. Gu Fangyi was on guard duty, while Chu Qi was sharpening pieces of the railing into javelins. She did it by hand, sliding them up and down to hone a point.
Lu Luo witnessed her making weapons, but he didn't understand the exact principle. It's probably some kind of innate ability, he thought.
He watched Chu Qi's movements. Her fingers moving up and down, able to sharpen an iron rod to a needle-sharp point... That kind of ability always sends a shiver down one's spine—or lower.
"Here, this is for you," Chu Qi said, tossing a freshly made javelin to Lu Luo.
"Thanks. How's the discussion going? Are we going to keep waiting here?"
I don't have any better ideas right now, Lu Luo thought. And Chu Qi's identity is very suspicious. Asking her might yield some useful information.
"Hold this position for now," Chu Qi said. "Support from the Wasteland Safety Bureau should be here soon. Believe in the Alliance."
Such a confident tone. Few people would speak with such certainty in this situation unless they knew something.
Lu Luo nodded. He knew the core values of Wastelandism. With a devout expression, he said, "Yeah, I believe in the Alliance."
"Stop chatting! Get ready, something's coming!" Gu Fangyi suddenly spoke up, making everyone tense. After killing the four Exotic Species on this floor, they hadn't been attacked again; this floor had been safe all along.
But now an outsider was approaching. Could it be an Exotic Species?
Everyone, Lu Luo included, gripped the weapons Chu Qi had distributed earlier.
Having encountered Exotic Species before, Lu Luo was well aware of their strength and danger.
Although my power has increased significantly, it's still wise to be cautious when facing Exotic Species.
"Is anyone there? We're Hunter Team 33 from the Wasteland. If there's anyone alive, please respond."
The voice came from behind the flowing gray curtain at the corridor entrance. A shadow flashed past, but the curtain obscured it, preventing Lu Luo and the others from seeing clearly.
Be careful. According to the Observer's accurate judgment, the newcomer is likely not human.
Lu Luo frowned slightly. Not human? An Exotic Species that can speak?
Not everyone was as calm as Lu Luo. Hearing the voice, Liu Ting, the only ordinary person, immediately stood up in excitement.
Seeing her reaction, Chu Qi and Gu Fangyi hurriedly tried to stop her. Lu Luo also frowned.
"Wait!" they cried out.
But their attempts were too late. Liu Ting didn't want to stay here any longer. The Hunter's voice was like a lifeline, and she couldn't wait to grab it.
"Here! There are people here! We're still alive!"
SLAP! Gu Fangyi yanked Liu Ting back and slapped her. Lowering his voice, he said coldly, "Being weak isn't the problem. Even in this awful situation, I'll try my best to get you out. But if you're weak and stupid, you won't survive."
The young man is right. One need not fear god-like opponents, only pig-like teammates. It's even worse if there's more than one.
Lu Luo didn't linger his gaze on Liu Ting and Gu Fangyi. Instead, he subtly watched Chu Qi.
He, Chu Qi, and Gu Fangyi had all sensed something amiss with the earlier voice.
Chu Qi had just tried to stop Liu Ting along with Gu Fangyi. It was normal for Gu Fangyi to notice something wrong, given his Hawk Eye and strength.
But what about Chu Qi? Her awakened Sequence should be some kind of palm-related ability. Could she possess a second Sequence? Or is her strength not inferior to Gu Fangyi's at all? Perhaps she's even stronger? Did Chu Qi try to stop Liu Ting because Liu Ting disrupted her plans? They're all just twenty-year-olds; why are they all such cunning schemers? It's a good thing I have the Observer. With its help, dealing with these schemers shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Liu Ting didn't understand why Gu Fangyi had treated her that way. Shouldn't they respond to the Hunter's call? Are they just going to keep waiting here? Staying here feels like a death sentence!
At this thought, feeling increasingly tense and with her emotions even more unstable than Zhou Kai's, Liu Ting erupted.
"Gu Fangyi, what gives you the right to hit me? Who do you think you are? Just because you killed a few Exotic Species, you think you're something special? I'm leaving right now, don't anyone try to stop me! You can keep guarding this place, you bunch of idiots!"
After saying this, Liu Ting ran towards the staircase, yelling as she went, "Wait, I'm here!"
But what emerged from the gray curtain at the staircase was not a Wasteland Hunter, but a massive, thick, black arm.
Dangling from this arm was the mangled half of an Exotic Species corpse, seemingly some kind of mutated bird. Its body had been completely torn apart—a horrific sight.
The black arm's owner gradually passed through the gray curtain and stood before Liu Ting.
Everyone stared at the figure. It was a grotesque monster, one difficult to describe, currently munching on the remains of the bird-like Exotic Species.
The creature had half a human face and a crocodile-like head, one leopard leg, one deer leg, and a thick tail—a complete patchwork monstrosity. The voice issued from its half-human face.
Its upper body muscles were incredibly strong, yet each one had clear seams, as if chunks of flesh had been crudely stitched together. A black, ink-like viscous fluid oozed over its body, looking utterly repulsive.
Liu Ting was terrified. She desperately wanted to run, but fear had frozen her legs, rendering her immobile.
The creature eyed Liu Ting. It swallowed the Exotic Species corpse in one gulp. Still appearing hungry, its massive jaws opened wide, and with a sickening CRACK, it instantly bit Liu Ting in two.
At that distance, no one was quick enough to save her. And just like that, Liu Ting, through her own recklessness, had sealed her own doom.
A Second Tier Exotic Species, and a very strong Deformed Species at that. Observe your teammates' performance. If they're useless, I suggest retreating. This Deformed Species' defense is too high; you likely don't have enough attack power. However, if your teammates possess some combat capability, you could attempt to fight it. After all, a Second Tier Deformed Species is quite a prize.