Chapter 260
It was utterly disgusting. The ruins were covered in a purplish-black fungal carpet, and only the general outlines of the buildings could be discerned. Outside the settlement was a forest and a small river that had long since dried up.
Everything underfoot and to the touch was slippery and greasy, like touching oily skin with countless pulsating veins.
The group didn't rush to explore further. The Defense Force's intelligence that the creep wouldn't attract swarms was hard to verify.
Everyone could only endure the stench and wait for several hours before conducting various experiments on the fungal mat.
Slashes, gunshots, fire—a large chunk of the fungal carpet was shaved off, but not a single insect came to check the situation.
"It seems this thing's warning function is useless against players." Yuki sheathed his sword. According to the Defense Force, it was a DNA collector that only worked on specific groups of people.
After all, this planet still has storms and frost. If they are too sensitive, the swarm will be unable to do anything. The Defense Force can simply send a few people to shoot down from the wall and lay in ambush with heavy firepower to take them down.
"There's another possibility: the swarm is setting a trap to lure us deeper," Hayasaka Ai said quietly, before Levi Ackerman interrupted her.
"That means there's a traitor among us who passed intelligence to the Zerg."
Those dead fish eyes swept over everyone, then he silently walked down the hill.
"Let's go, let's find an insect first." Yuki, waving his hand. "Without the Defense Force's surveillance, we can properly explore the secrets."
There were no biologists present, nor was it necessary for them to understand the insect colony's living environment; they needed to find specimens and then study them carefully.
The group walked down the hillside, where the large expanse of purplish-red buildings provided excellent cover. The settlement was small, with only a dozen or so houses, but they didn't see a single insect as they walked through the area.
It seems the swarm isn't as large as I imagined.
Yuki looked around. He really thought there was an endless sea of insects outside the wall, but he didn't see even a shadow of insects. So he focused more of his attention on Levi Ackerman.
This captain was originally at most at the level of a Limit- human, but now he moves at an incredible speed, disappearing from sight in the blink of an eye and reappearing a while later. He is also vigilant about everything around him and will lie on the ground like Hound, listening intently.
"He's very professional," Mai Sakurajima said softly. She didn't need to do anything.
"They're natural scouts, which proves that Smiling Lady has high expectations for us." With someone clearing the way, Yuuki was happy to have some free Yuki. "Of the four teams that broke through the wall this time, ours is the most reliable."
Without trust in each other, who would dare venture beyond the wall? I imagine the other three teams are currently engaged in a battle of wits.
"To be precise, I have high expectations for you," the senior corrected, then lowered her voice, "Last night I witnessed the process of the Goshawk refueling."
"Stop beating around the bush, just tell me."
"A transport plane delivered a metal box, then replaced the original fuel rods of the Goshawk and took it away."
Is it really just a battery replacement?
Yuki was somewhat disappointed, which was perfectly normal.
"Don't worry, I've gotten closer and I see a huge Emerald Stone inside the iron box, but it's different from what Hayasaka- san found." Mai Sakurajima glanced furtively at Levi Ackerman in the distance and lowered her voice even further.
"The stone that was brought in didn't glow, and it was exactly the same as the one that was replaced, but after it was installed in the engine, it seemed to be activated. I heard the operator say it was called Ignition Ritual."
Ignition Ritual?
Yuki read it several times. It definitely had nothing to do with religion; it was more like the 'activation' that her senior mentioned.
Lighting a fire? Fire Seed? You can't just bring it out like that.
That was all he could think of. He didn't call Hiyori over to analyze it together, because the scout captain finally stopped and raised his hand to them.
Insect.
The group scattered instantly, hiding behind various cover. Yuki poked half his head out and saw with his naked eye several huge black shadows emerging from the purplish-black forest.
"One Samurai Bug and twenty Soldier Bug; they look like a patrol."
"Even insects are patrolling?" Kaguya Shinomiya climbed to a high point, covered in optical camouflage. "It's hard to see in the woods, but this is the only squad around."
Of course they need to patrol. The swarm knows the players are coming, and they also know that the creep can't Reconnaissance the players.
However, according to the Defense Force's data, the swarm is a honeycomb structure, and except for a few high-level Zerg, the disappearance of a lower-level Zerg will not alarm the entire swarm.
This is somewhat like the human brain, which cannot perceive the peeling of a piece of skin on a foot. If the scale is magnified a million times, how can it notice these minor details?
"Leave the Samurai Bug and one Soldier Bug alive, kill the rest. Kaguya, don't let a single one escape. Don't use heavy firepower on the others."
Yuki drew his sword and moved close to the low wall. Just as the group was unfolding, a cold voice was heard.
"You guys hide them well, I'll take care of them."
No sooner had he finished speaking than he caught a glimpse of a white light emerging from the edge of the forest. Levi Ackerman was holding two thin blades made entirely of light, leaving a series of afterimages behind him.
Extremely fast and agile, the two leading Soldier Bug had barely raised their antennae when the two cockroach heads detached from their bodies.
The power was used perfectly, and the figure leaped into the air, looking down at the approaching Samurai Bug and the Soldier Bug that turned and ran away. A pair of white wings of light unfolded behind him, and he briefly disappeared from Yuki's retina.
When it reappeared, the fleeing Soldier Bug had been decapitated, while the Samurai Bug was still turning its head, searching for a target.
Wow, that was fast.
Yuki. Levi Ackerman, his wings fluttering slightly, charged back from the back of the insect swarm.
The gleaming blade and the lithe figure are like Wings of Freedom.
Chapter Twenty-Five: A Game of Life and Death (5K)
They killed insects as easily as chopping melons and vegetables; the Samurai Bug lost its left arm in a single encounter, leaving everyone astonished.
Elegant yet simple, every movement is superfluous, like a surgeon focused intently on performing an operation, or a dancer so graceful that even an insect cannot touch the hem of her garment.
"This guy is strong." Hayasaka Ai held the Death Knell, yet she lacked confidence in hitting her opponent.
"Monster-level players, each with a unique skill." Yuki muttered to himself. This was a system that had been pushed to its Limit, and Levi could explain a lot more.
He was just an 'ordinary person,' proving that even those from a low-level martial arts world can reach the top, and that the core of his techniques and tactics remained unchanged.
Dual-wielding, close-quarters combat, agile warrior.
Seeing Levi Ackerman's ferocity was indeed unexpected, but upon closer reflection, it made perfect sense. It would have been even more surprising if the captain had directly used artillery fire.
This proves that players who focus on "improvement" will stick to their old paths. My Prophet is still useful, but it's only those who come from the blank slate of the everyday world who are unpredictable.
Yuki glanced at Hayasaka Ai, who looked on in amazement. If he hadn't experienced it firsthand, no one would have imagined that this maid would be wielding a revolver and blasting things around.
"He's trying to intimidate me, and also to boost your confidence."
The Thorny Rose has too many members, Shiina Hiyori among them, so they're easy to manipulate. Only Yuki is all alone, so it wouldn't be surprising if he did something.
"Who told you to look so much like a bad guy? It always makes me uneasy." Mai Sakurajima wrinkled her nose, then quickly stopped her little gesture. "A winner was decided in 53 seconds. How come you seem even better than me?"
The Samurai Bug's legs had been severed, and the entire insect lay sprawled on the ground. Levi Ackerman gripped his light blade in the back of his hand and expressionlessly dislocated the joints. As for the Soldier Bug, it was indeed reduced to half.
While others were slaying Giant, I was thinking about how to pick up girls; in terms of leveling up speed, I was clearly faster.
Yuki felt a surge of resentment, and ignited Red Lotus Fire, which vanished in the blink of an eye.
Moving with his Blood-Burning Heart was indeed a waste, but with the girl watching, how could he fall behind? When he emerged from the embers, Levi Ackerman was so startled that he took a half-step back.
Seeing is believing; this Yuki Sorajima is even faster than him in a sprint. Just as Teresa said, he is indeed a master.
"Solved. Looks like it won't alert the other swarms," the captain said calmly, stomping the struggling Samurai Bug to the ground.
Yuki nodded, squatted down beside the mangled insect body, and watched as the limbs regenerated, only to be severed again immediately. His dark compound eyes were filled with madness.
He had no interest in studying entomology. Switching to his Devil's Vision, he saw the soul light within the skull, and suddenly drew his sword, cleaving through the hard insect armor.
His face was split in two, but the Samurai Bug was still struggling, its regeneration rate unchanged. Yuki beckoned, Mai Sakurajima came over, turned on the powerful flashlight, and then held her breath.
"It's Emerald Stone."
The Samurai Bug's head was empty, with no visible brain tissue. Dense blood vessels connected to a stone emitting a faint purple glow, causing Yuki to reveal an expression of both smugness and surprise.
He stood up and immediately dissected the Soldier Bug as well, but the result was the same; apart from the stone being as small as a grain of rice, there was no difference in essence.
He then conducted in-depth experiments, which, as a medical student, was a return to his old profession.
As it slowly absorbs the energy, the insect's recovery rate will slow down. Once it has absorbed all the energy, it will curl up into a ball and become a corpse.
Similarly, removing the stone has the same effect, meaning there's no need to cut off the head; simply destroying the stone precisely will kill the insect.
The results came quickly: the so-called swarm was a killing machine powered by Emerald Stone. As long as the energy remained, it could be repaired even after being cut to pieces.
"This thing isn't a normal life form at all. No wonder I've never seen insects feeding or eating people." Yuki wiped the sweat from his brow. This answered the biggest question that had plagued him for seven days.
A group of people stood amidst the insect corpses, looking at each other, and as players, they all felt they had discovered a huge secret.
The fact that the swarm is driven by Emerald Stone suggests that this war is essentially a resource war.
"No, why is the Defense Force hiding this information?" Kaguya Shinomiya was very confused, feeling there was nothing to hide.
"Either the people below don't need to know this information, or they have problems with how they use the Emerald Stone," Levi Ackerman replied coldly, with a familiar undertone.
The desperately struggling soldiers and the high-ranking officials concealing secrets create a strong sense of déjà vu.
It's because the scene evoked memories, isn't it?
Yuki glanced at him; in truth, he had already begun to have doubts.
The Defense Force's use of Emerald Stone is more like pure energy, but the Wall of Sighs burns with intense soul energy, completely different from that in firearms and war machines.
And most importantly, the souls of those traitors were tainted with the purple of the swarm, and even after eliminating them, I gained not a single bit of soul energy.
A similar thing happened during the 'Calamity of Blood'. The warriors who were drawn into the Slaughter Cycle gave him the same feeling: the souls of the dead were not taken by the Demon Heart, but went to another place.
"You have a deep understanding of the soul?" Levi Ackerman turned his head and noticed that Yuki had a special ability.
"I wouldn't call it research, but the souls of those I kill are absorbed as energy, like players or the Zerg swarm. Of course, I haven't killed any ordinary people yet, so I can't be sure."
The captain immediately showed a look of disgust; the ability to kill bodies and steal souls was extremely evil.
"You don't need to confirm it. I hunted down a Soul Absorber that was an 'Aether Particles.' It killed many people on its escape route, but showed no signs of recovery."
Yuki didn't know what a Soul Absorber was, but he remembered Luguna's phrase "Soulless Blood" and guessed what it meant.
Soul absorbers should be able to heal by absorbing souls, but since it can't absorb any, it proves the problem isn't with itself. Therefore—
"I understand now. The Defense Force is either a bunch of soulless puppets, or their souls were transferred elsewhere when they died, which is why Mr. Yuki and the soul absorbers couldn't steal souls!"
A clear voice suddenly rang out. Shiina Hiyori had been listening in the whole time, using 'Future Deduction' to combine every piece of information, her petite face beaming with excitement.
An interesting hypothesis: the second scenario is more likely. So, what's the point of transferring the soul of the deceased?
Yuki thought of the 'Ignition Ritual', Levi Ackerman thought of the higher-ups concealing information. The two exchanged a glance.
It touches on the soul, giving pure science fiction a magical touch.
"As expected, this stone is the core, but humans and the insect swarm use it Taiyi."
Yuki hadn't expected to venture outside the walls to explore, but instead made contact with the Defense Force's top secrets. There was no need to consider operational principles; she could simply Repulsion from the main questline.
The Fire Seed —that thing definitely plays a crucial role.
"Continue exploring. The Emerald Stone certainly didn't appear out of thin air. Since the core of the insect swarm is the Emerald Stone, their key nodes must be related to it."
Yuki opened the electronic map and kept zooming in and out.
The map is from who knows how many years ago, but judging from the situation of the settlements, the information in it is quite accurate. The fungal carpet was just a layer and did not change the topography.
Settlements, mines, cities...
Yuki tapped his hand a few times, roughly defining the area. "Let's go check out these places first."
Everyone glanced at the city, which consisted entirely of mines or cities with mines, and they all understood what Yuki meant.
Emerald Stone is a specialty of this planet. Although we don't know how the insects were created, they certainly needed a carrier.
"But this map is from who knows how many years ago, and it still contains mineral deposits?" Hayasaka Ai asked.
"It's not about finding minerals, but rather that this war is reaching its climax, and the Zerg swarm will need to replenish their forces in a location not far away. Once we have this crucial information, we might be able to find their lair."
Finding the lair will provide a way to complete the second main storyline and give you more options, so you don't have to put all your eggs in one basket with Johnny Silverhand.
Yuki quickly assigned tasks and relayed the message to the other three teams. As for whether the latter dared to venture beyond the walls, he couldn't control that; at least the group led by Smiling Lady didn't seem to have much of a problem.
Hiyori was put in charge of player communication, Hiyori Mai Sakurajima- senpai was responsible for one-way communication with the 'Mechanical Believers'. Several days had passed, and Johnny Silverhand should have some news by now.
After resting for a while and confirming that the data on the insect swarm provided by the Defense Force was correct, they dug a pit to bury the insect corpses before having the captain lead the way and entering the forest according to the map.
All the plants were covered in a thick layer of fungal carpet, blocking out the sunlight. Outside the walls, the Devil's Vision would be impaired, but fortunately, the group had a professional scout, so their progress wasn't too slow.
First, we went to two mines to confirm that there was nothing unusual there. Then, we took down several Zerg patrols along the way and used Highway 0504 as the main route to search the towns and mines on both sides.
There's no need to get close; just observe with binoculars. If there's any doubt, have the senior student activate her special ability and go up to investigate directly.
Some mines were teeming with insects, so many that it was terrifying. But when compared with the insect swarm data, no high-level insect swarms could be found. If it were truly an lair, it couldn't be full of nothing but grunts.