486. Ice in the Desert

Since the mission did not require him to accompany these researchers, Lu Ban's initial plan was to obtain information about the swarm through these researchers, then go alone, use [Cat Poisoning] to lure the queen, and finally obtain the Heart of the Swarm before escaping.

But it seems that these researchers don't have much specific information either, and we'll have to figure it out ourselves.

If the other side makes a huge mistake and follows the swarm out of curiosity, only to be discovered by them, then Lu Ban can't say what will happen to his three companions.

This is similar to researchers who chase tornadoes and volcanic eruptions. Although they have obtained a lot of first-hand information about disasters for mankind, they are also racing against death. If they are not careful, they will be crushed to pieces.

The next morning, before the sun had even risen, the group was already preparing to continue their journey.

Ruins are rare in the wasteland. Due to years of weathering, most buildings have turned into rubble, no longer possessing the grandeur and magnificence they had before the disaster. The few remaining buildings have become a paradise for insects.

Buildings cast shadows, and during the hot day, insects gather in these shadows, and the food chain begins with these insects.

Therefore, encountering ruins while walking in the wilderness is sometimes not a good thing.

"It's so hot."

Lu Ban felt as if all the moisture in his body was being evaporated.

Fortunately, just as the sweat is about to be secreted, it is absorbed by the plants in the skin, achieving a perfect internal Loop and preventing excessive water loss.

"We need to replenish our water supply."

Frostheart responded to Lu Ban's words.

She was wearing a hat to shield herself from the sun, and whether it was Lu Ban's imagination or not, he felt that the woman didn't seem to be very hot.

"Now?"

Lu Ban didn't quite understand. In the middle of the desert, surrounded by barren land, where could they possibly replenish their water supply?

Everyone else stopped. Frostheart took out a black pillar about the thickness of an arm from the backpack carried by the Camel Insect. She stuck the pillar into the ground, and a subtle vibration spread from the gravel.

Lu Ban felt as if sonar was exploring something.

Suddenly, the earth trembled in unison with the pillar's vibration.

The next moment, Lu Ban saw the nearby sand begin to undulate, as if something was about to emerge and be brought into the sunlight.

"Is the big one coming?"

Lu Ban asked a question subconsciously.

Immediately afterwards, something burst forth from the ground. It was a huge worm with a dark yellow body the color of gravel. Its skin was rough, yet it gave off a soft, unsettling feeling. Lu Ban estimated that the worm was at least twenty meters long and nearly one meter in diameter. Its mouthparts resembled those of a lamprey, filled with tiny, densely packed teeth. Between these teeth were many grains of sand, as if it were a creature that fed on the sand.

As soon as the insect crawled out, Lu Ban saw Shana pull out the knife from her back.

The knife in the young man's hand looked like it was carved from the bones of some kind of creature; it was dull all over, with only the blade gleaming.

The crystals on his arm lit up at the same time, their eerie blue glow, like stars, making the surroundings even darker.

The boy charged at the giant worm with his knife.

At this moment, Lu Ban realized why his name was Shana.

It wasn't because he grasped the future, but because he was just too fast.

With a swift, almost imperceptible motion, the simple knife pierced the worm's rough skin, leaving a long gash. The enormous worm twitched as a result, but its fine teeth failed to catch its target.

In Lu Ban's [True Sight], Shana's actions were broken down. Only then did Lu Ban realize that, as the crystal on his arm lit up, Shana seemed to enter a special state. His body was surrounded by a blue light. Within this light, his movements were accelerated, or rather, the movement of everything except him was slowed down. This gave Shana a gap to easily dodge the worm's attack.

If this child appeared in Lu Ban's world, he would probably get the title of Flash or Quicksilver.

The worm's wound gushed out a pale fluid, which fell onto the sand and quickly soaked the ground, turning the sand a deep black.

Then, the Singer tugged at her collar, revealing a necklace-like crystal on her throat, and then opened her mouth and began to sing loudly.

She was singing in a language that Lu Ban couldn't understand, or perhaps it was just a nonsensical idiom. Although it was a cappella, the melody was melodious. In this song, it seemed that all the despair and gloom had been swept away, leaving people refreshed and in a good mood.

As the song played, the insect's wound began to worsen, with more thick, white fluid gushing out, as if the song had torn open the wound and ripped out more flesh and blood.

The large gray worm struggled and tried to burrow back into the ground, but Frostheart had somehow appeared beside it.

Ignoring the filth and blood, she reached directly into the gaping wound.

A chill emanated from Frostheart's palm and spread along with the wound.

Click—

The insect was frozen at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The cold frost covered the insect's surface, and the splashed juices solidified in mid-air, blooming into a magnificent flower on the desert.

At this moment, dawn truly arrived in the wasteland, with sunlight shining from the Other Shore the horizon, and the ice crystals reflecting the light, glittering brilliantly.

Click—

Frostheart pulled her hand out of the frozen insect corpse, revealing that her palm was red, a sign of mild frostbite.

Lu Ban finally understood why she was called Frostheart.

Her heart must be frozen solid.

"Hurry up, we'll set off once we've replenished our water supply."

Frostheart said, while pulling out the black pillar.

"This thing can emit a sound at a special frequency to attract these worms, and these worms contain the water we need."

Seeing Lu Ban's puzzled look, Frostheart shook the pillar in her hand.

"Get moisture from them?"

Lu Ban glanced at the frozen monster fluids, looking slightly disgusted.

"Don't worry, these insects have water storage sacs inside their bodies. They collect the water by chewing sand, so their bodies contain a lot of clean water that can be drunk by humans after boiling."

Frostheart explained that she had taken out a pickaxe from her backpack, cracked open the frozen insects, and together with the other two, removed the huge block of ice from within.

By the time the ice was chiseled off, the temperature had risen considerably, and the frozen insects were gradually melting.

They only took a portion of the water, enough for a week's supply, including what was left. The rest gradually disappeared into the desert.

"We have to leave something for other creatures."

Frostheart looked at the vanished corpse and murmured to herself.