"We’ve consulted experts, and they all believe that the powerful mechanical species within the Yingudusi Devil’s Pit likely emerged due to the influence of super-life remains."
"So, this mission is extremely arduous. Everyone must be very careful."
He clapped his hands. Two mercenaries brought over four sealed boxes and opened them in front of everyone. Inside were rows of meticulously protected test tubes containing a pale red liquid.
"This is a special serum the boss procured at great expense. As for the source... I’m sorry, but I must keep it confidential. The boss signed a non-disclosure agreement with the other party. It’s an enhancement serum still in the experimental stage, and it’s very potent. If we encounter insurmountable trouble and have no other options... I believe this would be the best choice."
After Leder finished speaking, he casually picked one for himself.
The mercenaries stepped forward one by one to take theirs. The remaining professionals followed, with Hu Ling leading his team to take theirs. Dora’s eyes flickered as she chose one with an amused smile.
She had already decided not to use it. After the mission, she’d find a lab and sell this thing for a good price! The client signed a non-disclosure agreement with the other party, but *I* didn’t.
Chen Gu and Qing Ruyan were the last to take theirs. They didn’t examine them much in front of everyone and simply pocketed them.
"Alright," Leder said, drawing a route on the holographic map with his hand. "We’ll head to Location Number One first."
The convoy set out again, but this time the alert level was significantly heightened. On top of each combat vehicle, besides the electromagnetic gun positions, there were two mercenaries and one professional.
The President still enjoyed immense privileges. She was the only one not required to stand guard on the vehicle’s roof. And her pretty-boy freeloader, Chen Gu, of course, stayed with the President.
The scout in the lead vehicle suddenly yelled, "Two o’clock, four hundred meters!"
Communication devices were completely useless, so everyone had reverted to the era of shouting to communicate.
Everyone immediately looked in that direction. There, a patch of soft soil began to bulge, as if something was hidden underneath.
PUFF! A round mechanical eyeball sprouted from the ground, connected to a flexible mechanical shaft as thick as a pinky finger.
PUFF! PUFF! PUFF! A series of mechanical eyeballs emerged.
They turned agilely, following the convoy’s movement, and then a faint, chattering sound wafted around, as if something was conferring.
Everyone tensed up; the mercenaries adjusted their energy guns to the highest setting, while the professionals quietly gathered their power.
However, nothing bizarre happened until the convoy left their surveillance range, and everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Leder said, "The route we’ve chosen is the safest based on our current intelligence. Please trust that the amount the boss spent on this far exceeds what any of you might imagine."
After about thirty miles, they were nearly at Location Number One.
Leder explained, "According to the information we’ve collected, a Steam Mechanical Species known as the Elephant Fish Monster is said to reside near Location Number One. Its strength ranges from the Fourth to the Sixth Energy Level."
"Within its operational range lies a buried expanse of massive metal bones. These could be the remains of a super-life form or possibly the wreckage of an ancient fleet; it’s currently undetermined. We need to conduct an on-site survey to ascertain this."
Hu Ling added, "Very few Steam Mechanical Species can reach power levels beyond the Fourth Energy Level. Steam Mechanical Species are generally weaker than Energy Gathering Mechanical Species, but higher-level Steam Mechanical Species are extremely dangerous, often possessing special weapons and fearsome brute strength. Everyone must remain vigilant!"
As he spoke, he took a deep breath and completed his transformation into the Hell Titan.
After transforming, the Hell Titan, at the peak of the First Energy Level, stood three and a half meters tall, like a small giant. Ordinary mercenaries looked like children beside him, and even heavy armored combat vehicles seemed like toy cars!
The convoy slowed down, advancing gradually.
Dora stepped down from the combat vehicle. She knelt on one knee to the side, hands clasped over her chest, head bowed, chanting something that sounded like a spell. Then, her body also began to change slowly: her ears gradually grew pointed and angled upwards, and her entire figure elongated.
She then stood, adjusted the energy weapon in her hands, opened a side slot, and inserted three additional energy magazines.
She looked at everyone. "In this form, my perception abilities are greatly enhanced. The electromagnetic storm is interfering with our radar equipment, but now, I am a humanoid radar."
Leder smiled with satisfaction and gave her a thumbs-up. "The boss’s money was well spent."
Chen Gu also possessed a similar ability, Mind Belief. However, he didn’t reveal it, instead secretly paying close attention to their surroundings.
He focused on a particular direction and gently nudged Qing Ruyan beside him with his elbow, signaling her to look. However, Qing Ruyan didn’t respond.
Chen Gu found this odd. He turned to look at her, only to find Qing Ruyan glowering at him. Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn NoveI-Fire.ɴet
"What’s wrong?" Chen Gu asked, puzzled. Qing Ruyan continued to glare at him. Chen Gu subconsciously glanced down and realized his elbow had brushed against Qing Ruyan’s chest...
How awkward. It wasn’t intentional! Don’t be so petty. Besides, I didn’t even feel anything when I brushed against you. It’s really because you’re too small.
Chen Gu mechanically withdrew his elbow and again used his eyes to indicate the area of concern: a patch of soft sand.
"This is the fourth time."
Although those mechanical eyeballs hadn’t reappeared, they encountered similar patches of soft ground every so often along the way. Chen Gu also had the feeling that something was observing them from the shadows.
Qing Ruyan furrowed her brows and whispered into his ear, "Our data has no record of such a mechanical species."
They had no idea what these things were, making it impossible to assess the threat they posed.
Using her body to shield her movement, she quickly jabbed a finger precisely into the wound on Chen Gu’s face!
Chen Gu stifled a cry of pain, his eyes watering.
Before they set out today, Chen Gu had used his Atomic Life ability to treat the wound on his face. It looked healed on the surface. But Qing Ruyan was not to be trifled with; that earlier twist of hers, whatever technique she’d used, had somehow left a hidden injury!
"Hmph!" Qing Ruyan snorted proudly, turned her head, and ignored him.
The convoy continued to move forward. Dora’s two pointed ears, like two antennas, moved in steady circles above her head.
Watching those ears from behind, Chen Gu’s mind automatically supplied sound effects: BEEP-WHIRR—BEEP-WHIRR—BEEP-WHIRR—
And he always felt an urge to tug on those rabbit-like ears!