Sun Yang brandished his weapon as he walked, looking incredibly excited.
"Don’t get cocky."
Li Chang’an shot him a cold glance. "The mission hasn’t even started. What are you so excited about? Save it for when we’re done."
"Heh heh, Brother Chang’an, I’m just happy, is all!"
Sun Yang rubbed his nose and quickly wiped the smile off his face.
The Insect Hunter Squad pressed on. Though the atmosphere seemed relaxed, every member remained alert to their surroundings.
"Something’s not right up ahead."
Bai Lin suddenly stopped and raised a hand, signaling for the team to halt.
"What is it?"
Li Chang’an stopped immediately as well, looking back at Bai Lin.
"I’m picking up a weird signal. Doesn’t seem like the Insect Race," Bai Lin said, frowning at the device in his hands.
"Not the Insect Race?"
Han Ruoxi asked curiously. "Then what could it be?"
"Not sure. The signal is messy. Let me check again."
Bai Lin crouched down and began working on his device.
"Hey, we’re not about to run into some Alien Martial Artists, are we?"
Sun Yang blurted out. "Those guys are no joke!"
"Don’t spout nonsense. Let Bai Lin figure things out first."
Li Chang’an shot him a glare, and Sun Yang immediately shut up.
The squad fell silent. Bai Lin continued to work his device while Han Ruoxi watched him from the side, looking anxious.
"Got it!"
Bai Lin finally looked up, his brow furrowed. "The signal source is to the east, not far from here. We need to go check it out."
"Let’s move. Go check it out."
Li Chang’an ordered immediately, and the Insect Hunter Squad hurried toward the signal’s source.
They hadn’t gone far when a faint tremor came from the distance, as if some colossal creature was moving underground.
"What’s that sound?"
Han Ruoxi asked with a frown.
"Not good. It might be the Insect Race’s burrowers!"
Bai Lin immediately tensed. "That kind of tremor usually means subterranean Insect Race activity!"
"Burrowers? What a pain."
Li Chang’an’s expression darkened. "Everyone, on your guard! Prepare for battle!"
"Whoa, finally some action!"
Sun Yang rubbed his hands together in excitement, clearly impatient after the long wait.
The Insect Hunter Squad immediately adopted a combat stance. Everyone gripped their weapons, their eyes locked on the area ahead.
The tremors grew closer, and small cracks began to spiderweb across the ground, as if something was about to burst out from beneath.
"Get ready!"
Li Chang’an said in a low voice. The Saw Chain Sword in his hand was already active, its teeth humming with a low-pitched WHIR.
"These burrowers... there’s probably not just one, is there?"
Shen Qiuyue stood to the side, gripping her High-Energy Dueling Sword, her expression as calm and composed as ever. "These things usually travel in packs."
"Packs are even better!"
Sun Yang chuckled. The Pulse Gun on his shoulder was already aimed at the cracks in the ground. "The more the merrier. I’ll kill as many as they send. It’ll be a good warm-up!"
"You’re certainly optimistic."
Han Ruoxi stood on the other side, her hands slightly raised. The air around her began to crackle with the smell of ozone, ready to unleash her Electric Superpower at a moment’s notice.
"Optimism is a good thing," Li Chang’an said with a faint smile. "But don’t let your guard down. The Insect Race doesn’t play games."