Mission complete!

Han Ling started in alarm, only then realizing she had been so focused on the phone that she had forgotten to answer.

"Oh, that, humanoid Calamity Beasts... humanoid Calamity Beasts..."

Han Ling kept repeating the words "humanoid Calamity Beasts," feeling as though her brain had crashed, unsure what to think for a moment.

Meanwhile, Shen Heng took his phone back and began typing again.

Soon, Han Ling finally thought of a reply.

"Oh, humanoid Calamity Beasts!"

"You know Darwin's theory of evolution, right?"

"It means living things gradually evolve according to their environment into a form best suited to their survival and reproduction!"

"And although the other world is a little different from ours, it has trees just like we do, and soil too!"

"So there's nothing strange about humanoid ones that can climb trees appearing, and besides..."

Han Ling kept explaining while Shen Heng handed over the phone with his finished plan.

Still answering aloud, Han Ling took the phone and began reading.

Shen Heng: Once we finish talking, I'll find an excuse to head over to Wu Cheng. On my way there, I'll secretly carry you on my back. That way, there'll only be one set of footsteps, and this Calamity Beast will think I'm the only one heading over. Then, when it changes floors, I'll alert you, and all you need to do is shoot it!

After considering it, Han Ling typed on the phone and handed it back.

Shen Heng took the phone and looked.

Han Ling: This might still seem a little contrived. What if the Calamity Beast gets suspicious?

Shen Heng fell briefly silent as he read the line on the phone.

He had considered that just now, which was why, when asking the captain to hold on a little longer, he had specifically told him to go all out-to leave the Calamity Beast no time to distinguish things carefully! But now...

Since Han Ling had raised the issue too, Shen Heng decided he had better refine the plan some more.

He typed rapidly on the screen, then handed it over.

Han Ling took the phone and saw the script for what came next.

Say this after you finish.

Han Ling: There's no point talking so much. You haven't seen this Calamity Beast, right? It's over by Wu Cheng now, and he's keeping it from getting down. If you head over and stay there a while, won't you be able to see it yourself?

Shen Heng: Yeah, you're right. I'll head over, then?

Han Ling: Okay.

I'll record that last "okay" on the phone, then leave the phone and earpiece here and set it to play on a timer.

If the Calamity Beast spares some attention to listen for you, he'll hear the recording playing on the phone and mistakenly think you're still here.

After reading it, Han Ling handed the phone back and nodded, signaling her agreement with the plan.

The plan went into action.

Han Ling began wrapping up what she was saying.

"...So there's nothing strange about any kind of Calamity Beast appearing. Even if you told me dragons would appear someday, I'd think that was normal!"

With that, Han Ling swallowed and said:

"There's no point talking so much. You haven't seen this Calamity Beast, right? It's over by Wu Cheng now, and he's keeping it from getting down. If you head over and stay there a while, won't you be able to see it yourself?"

Shen Heng paused, giving the impression that he was thinking, before saying:

"Yeah, you're right. I'll head over, then!"

With that, Shen Heng tapped the screen and handed over the phone, which had already begun recording.

"Mm, okay!" Han Ling answered as she took it.

The recording finished, Shen Heng set it to play in one minute, then placed the phone and earpiece on the windowsill and turned around.

Once Han Ling was on his back, he walked step by step toward one of the walls Wu Cheng was responsible for.

"59!"

"58!"

"Flame Falcon!"

The fiery-red Peregrine Falcon swooped straight up.

Forced to abandon its plan to descend two floors in succession, the Calamity Beast raced toward another wall.

It wasn't that it didn't want to keep descending along the same wall as before, but rather...

Thud!

Something heavy hit the ground.

Using the ceiling, Wang Hai swiftly leaped down from the floor above. The instant his feet landed, he kicked off hard, charging straight at the Calamity Beast again.

"Wu Cheng, the other side!" Wang Hai warned through the earpiece.

Damn it, how are we supposed to catch this thing?!

Wu Cheng muttered inwardly. Despite thinking that, he still hurried toward the other wall.

He raised his hand, formed a Flame Falcon, and fired.

The same script played out, and the Calamity Beast dodged once again.

I knew it! ...Muttering inwardly, Wu Cheng cast a bored glance around the floor, only for his eyes to widen abruptly.

Towering waves surged wildly through his heart as he stared fixedly at that spot.

There was Shen Heng, walking toward him step by step with Han Ling on his back.

Wait, he's already carrying her? What the hell? Even this works...

Shen Heng knew nothing of the nuclear waste passing for thoughts in Wu Cheng's head. He continued walking toward Wu Cheng with Han Ling on his back.

"33!"

"32!"

Suddenly, Shen Heng stopped.

He looked up at Wu Cheng, who was facing them and about to say something, and hurriedly raised a hand to his lips in a shushing gesture.

Wu Cheng froze for a moment at the sight, his whole body going rigid on the spot. Only after a good while did he nod somewhat stiffly.

Seeing this, Shen Heng breathed a sigh of relief.

He silently advanced his count by five seconds.

"26!"

"25!"

"24!"

"6!"

"5!"

The countdown wasn't over yet, but Shen Heng had to lay the groundwork for the recorded reply first.

"Oh, Han Ling, remember to guard your side properly. Don't let the Calamity Beast escape through there!" Shen Heng said.

On Shen Heng's back, Han Ling heard him speaking all on his own and couldn't help wanting to laugh, but she managed to hold it in!

A second later, Han Ling's voice came from the windowsill.

"Mm, okay!"

With the setup complete, Shen Heng continued carrying Han Ling toward the edge of the building.

Not far away, Wu Cheng watched the scene before him in bewilderment.

Wait, what does this mean? Isn't Han Ling on Shen Heng's back? Why is Shen Heng still telling her to guard the wall on her side?

Shen Heng carried Han Ling step by step to the unobstructed section of parapet, then gently set her down.

As soon as she was down, Han Ling carefully leaned against a pillar and extended half her body outside to observe the area above.

Shen Heng also stood by the wall, his head tilted slightly upward.

But he wasn't looking at the floor above. He was looking at the night sky. After all, even without looking, he knew perfectly well when the Calamity Beast would arrive.

Amid the maddening howls, two sets of footsteps prowled overhead, one behind the other...

The two waited quietly where they were.

Not far away, Wu Cheng watched the scene before him, his mouth hanging open without his realizing it.

By now, he naturally understood what Shen Heng and Han Ling intended to do. He just hadn't expected...

You can do it like that?

At a certain moment.

The howling abruptly stopped, and then the two sets of footsteps, one behind the other, rushed toward Shen Heng's wall.

With the sudden quiet in his ears, Shen Heng's brow involuntarily relaxed. His head felt better, but he found it a little strange.

Why did it suddenly stop howling?

Without dwelling on it, Shen Heng turned to glance at Han Ling and gave her a signal.

Han Ling nodded to show she understood.

She made a slight adjustment to the sniper rifle in her hands, adopting a more suitable position. At the same time, a faint crimson glow gathered toward the gun as she infused it with her B-rank Explosion ability.

Pat! Pat! Pat! ...

The sound of fleshy claws striking the floor kept coming. The Calamity Beast drew closer and closer...

Shen Heng looked up, gazing calmly above.

20 meters!

15 meters!

8 meters!

3 meters!

1 meter!

Whoosh-!

The Calamity Beast abruptly thrust half its body out from the floor above.

Moonlight spilled down, bringing its oval head, dry, wrinkled skin, and thick, long tail into Shen Heng's view one after another.

Its mouth was stretched wide, as though gathering power, ready to attack at any moment.

Was it... planning to hit me with a big one? ...Somehow, Shen Heng understood why the Calamity Beast had suddenly stopped howling on its way over.

Unfortunately, he wasn't the only one waiting here for him...

There was also that pitch-black muzzle!

At that moment, the Calamity Beast had clearly seen the scene below as well.

A trace of uncontrollable fear showed in his eyes. He twisted his body desperately, trying to pull himself back, but...

Bang!

A gunshot rang out.

The bullet traced a crimson streak through the moonlight, then shot straight upward through the Calamity Beast's head.

Mission complete!