Chapter 736: Harassment
Chapter 736: Harassment
After leaving the Indigenous Settlement, the three Execution Squad Commanders led their teams through the depths of the forest, guided by several local guides. Despite their large numbers, they had previously encountered various creatures during their journey, slowing them down and leaving numerous traces. However, this time, they encountered no dangers, and even minor issues were easily resolved.
Their pace was several times faster than usual, and they even had the leisure to clear their tracks as they went.
The presence of a skilled guide made all the difference. If they had had these guides a few days earlier, they might have already found the Relic.
Nevertheless, the three Commanders remained vigilant towards the locals, but they also reasoned that even if these people had ulterior motives, it would likely be related to the Relic. Therefore, they were probably safe until they found it.
After walking for about half a day, the guides examined the river ahead and seemed to notice something. After discussing among themselves, they suggested taking a break. Although the team's stamina could handle it, the guides must have had a good reason for this, so Commander Hai immediately ordered the team to rest.
Commander Hai took a sip of water and glanced at Commander Lu, who sat with a furrowed brow. "Commander Lu, are you still worried about Commander Xu? I don't think you need to."
Commander Lu looked at him in surprise.
Commander Hai took another sip of water, slowly tightened the lid of his water bottle, and put it away before speaking. "Commander Xu is very capable, and he's always been cautious. Even if we encounter problems, he's unlikely to face any issues."
Commander Lu frowned. "Old Xu may be a formidable fighter, but he's still just one person."
Commander Hai said, "We haven't received any news for several days. The Defense Department won't just stand by and watch. I think they'll send reinforcements."
Commander Lu thought for a moment. He wasn't optimistic about this idea, as the Defense Department's main forces were currently deployed at the World Ring's breach, and the ones left in Nanor Center City were assigned to protect important officials. It seemed unlikely that they could spare any personnel. However, he suddenly remembered someone...
Even if this person came to support them, the powerful enemies pursuing them might still be numerous, making it challenging to break free. Moreover, accurately locating them wouldn't be easy.
But having hope was better than having none.
He exhaled and said, "Let's hope so."
Commander Hai didn't try to persuade him further, trusting that Commander Lu would manage his emotions. However, his thoughts differed from Commander Lu's. "Commander Lu, Commander Hu, let's try to find the Relic. That way, Old Xu will have an easier time."
Commander Lu and Commander Hu both nodded in agreement. They had already made a plan beforehand: once they found the Relic, they would immediately launch signal flares and leave secret messages at key locations to inform Xu Chan. In theory, the faster they found it, the safer Xu Chan would be.
The last time they felt the resonance of the Relic's traces was four days ago, and they had been following those traces intermittently ever since.
They were now certain that the Relic had been swallowed by a particular creature, so in addition to relying on the resonance of the Relic, they also needed to track the traces of certain creatures. The local guides played a more significant role here, as only the indigenous people could identify the specific creature.
At that moment, a rumbling sound of galloping hooves came from ahead, and countless four-legged creatures, each the size of a horse, rushed past the riverbank. Despite their relatively small size, they seemed unusually heavy, leaving deep pits in the ground and crushing even the stones on the path.
After waiting for more than a quarter of an hour, these creatures finally left, but the terrain seemed to have been altered, with large swaths of trees toppled on both sides of the river.
Only then did the team realize why the guide had asked them to stop. If they had kept going, they would have collided with this group of creatures, and few of them would have survived.
The guide signaled that they could continue, but Commander Hai approached him for a brief conversation. After confirming the situation, he didn't immediately lead the team forward. Instead, he ventured out of the forest alone, crossing to the opposite bank to survey the area.
Just then, he felt a slight tremor in his pocket. He immediately stopped, turned several times, and, relying on his exceptional sensing ability, quickly fixed his gaze on a particular direction. He took a few more steps forward, and the sensation persisted without fading.
He looked at the direction he was facing, and his eyes lit up with certainty. Yes, it was here. After several days of intermittent searching, they had once again found traces of the Relic.
Chen Chuan stayed another night at the Alliance Camp and set off again at dawn, this time without the two-wheeled motor vehicles. He had to rely solely on his own two feet.
However, even in his normal running state, his speed was not much slower than that of the motor vehicles. Even with some consumption along the way, he could quickly replenish himself by eating a few nutrient gels.
Identifying the surrounding traces was more challenging. But soon, he realized that the further he went, the clearer the traces became, indicating that he was getting closer to those he was tracking.
After about a morning's journey, he came across the third camp along the way.
To his surprise, he found that this camp was manned by around seven or eight armed personnel, seemingly waiting for someone as they spent most of their time observing the rear.
It was also possible that they were guarding against enemies approaching from behind, but this was less likely; otherwise, they would have tried to remain hidden instead of being so obvious.
After a brief observation, he set down his travel bag, picked up the Snow Queen Saber, and approached the camp. The sentries at the camp immediately opened fire, but the gunfire ceased after just a moment.
In just half a minute, he had cleared out the entire camp of armed personnel.
He inspected the area and found some simple record files, confirming that the camps and traces of activity along the way were indeed intentionally left by the other party to facilitate the rear team's rendezvous with them. The incoming team must have been informed in advance about how to avoid the camp's guardian creatures.
The fact that they had reached this point indicated that the main force of the Union was already quite close.
As it was still early, he didn't linger for long. After taking a sip of water, he set off again and found another camp around three or four in the afternoon. This camp was also guarded by several armed personnel, whom he easily dispatched. Here, he discovered a new development.
After leaving this camp, the team split into two groups, each heading in different directions.
He surmised that the Union and the Linaksis Federation had been traveling together but separated at this point. These two distinct factions, and it made sense for them to split up for more efficient searches.
Through the captured armed personnel's confessions and the traces on the ground, he confirmed that the other party was only two or three days' journey away. With a faster pace and no unexpected setbacks, he might be able to catch up with them in just one or two days.
After ascertaining the direction the Union had taken, he decided to follow that path the next day.
According to the intelligence, most of the powerful fighters were from the Union, and resolving them would solve a significant portion of the problem.
After the Union's tracking vanguard discovered the camp, where everyone had already evacuated, half a day after Hai Zhaung and his team had left.
The most experienced action leader among the Union team inspected the camp and then led a group to investigate outside, only to find several sets of tracks, making it unclear which direction their target had taken.
As they prepared to investigate further, an explosion was heard from the direction of the camp. The action leader rushed back and found that the explosion had occurred outside the camp. Upon closer inspection, they discovered it was a remotely detonated explosive, fortunately causing no injuries.
However, before he could even catch his breath, he noticed pale brown fragments on the ground and was taken aback.
Was this... a beehive?!
Bees were not the only insects referred to as 'beehives'; it was a term often used for the nests of various flying insects that lived in colonies in fusion zones. Judging from the fragments, this destroyed beehive was unusually large.
In a tense and hurried voice, he shouted, "Quick, quick! Light as many campfires as possible! Hurry, hurry, get moving!"
His urgent tone prompted the team members to quickly understand the situation and set up makeshift campfires.
Soon, the buzzing of countless wings filled the air as an overwhelming swarm of insects appeared, seemingly from nowhere. It was like a dense cloud of locusts, visible even from several kilometers away.
The active plants and various creatures in the forest seemed to come alive, preying on the passing insects. The insects retaliated, but due to their massive numbers, they quickly devoured the active plants along the path.
The insect swarm, like a sandstorm, reached the campfires in no time. The newly lit fires and smoke were suppressed, creating an opening for the insects to pour in.
As the swarm threatened to engulf everyone, He Luos, who had been standing still, took a step forward. A radiant light shone from his azure eyes, and an invisible force erupted from his surroundings. In an instant, the insects within a three to four-hundred-meter radius began to fall like rain.
However, the force of the impact was indiscriminate, and even those with protective gear, including the weaker Third Limit Fighters, were knocked to the ground.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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