GAMMT - Chapter 35
Chapter 35: Advantage
Inside the cave, the air was thick with the pheromones released by the pregnant Scorpion-Tail Locust Queen. This scent drove the males of the entire colony into a frenzy, compelling them to serve her. The formidable team Fu Chuan had encountered earlier had gone to great lengths just to lure away the majority of the outer swarm. Afterward, they had remained hidden, waiting until the guard escorting the food returned.
Why not kill these guards?
Because they had a direct link to the queen. The food they escorted was the most critical resource for her reproduction, and the delivery times were fixed. If the delivery was late, both the queen and the guards would immediately become alert.
Besides, they never intended to disrupt the food delivery in the first place. In the young man's plan, this food was a crucial element.
Wait.
Wait for them to deliver the food.
Wait until the queen had likely finished eating and entered a state of digestion...
The young man checked the time. "At her level, the digestion time should be about right. Let's begin."
With a wave of his hand, the team launched their assault. The most elite "inner guards" were still in the core of the nest. This team went all out, annihilating the outer guards with maximum speed before finally reaching the BOSS.
The massive BOSS had just finished her meal. When she saw them, she couldn't understand why they were all wearing such ugly helmets. A murderous glint flashed in her emerald eyes, and her body tensed, preparing to attack.
"Positions!"
The young man, who served as the team's strategist, raised his hand and threw a test tube. It shattered on the ground with a bang. The liquid inside vaporized upon contact with the air, turning into a crimson gas that enveloped the BOSS. Unprepared, the BOSS inhaled the gas, her body trembling as she let out a pained shriek.
Was this some kind of poison gas?
No, it was a potion designed to stimulate reproductive functions. After inhaling it, the queen BOSS was forced into premature labor. It was common knowledge that once a female creature enters a state of childbirth, she not only suffers immense pain but also experiences a significant drop in combat effectiveness. More importantly, driven by maternal instinct, she would instinctively protect her offspring, which further reduced her fighting capabilities. And so...
"Attack!" the young man commanded calmly. The others unleashed their full firepower. The equipment and resources they used were a level or two higher than what Fu Chuan had seen the Arcanists at the farm use, enough to make her envious. Yet, they used these resources without a hint of hesitation. Thanks to the young man's foresight, they knew the details of this dungeon, were well-prepared, and had high expectations for the rewards. Thus, they were willing to invest heavily.
The BOSS was pummeled from all sides. A constant stream of amniotic fluid and blood flowed from her as the bulging parts of her abdomen writhed... Finally, she let out a piercing cry...
"Get ready, she's about to go berserk! Defend!" Seeing the red glow emanating from her body, the young man thought she was entering a berserk state and immediately warned everyone to dodge and assume defensive stances. But in the next second, his heart sank. Something's not right. The berserk state requires her health to be critical and her energy to be fully preheated. Although her health bar is dropping fast, she hasn't met those conditions yet.
"Wait, cleanse her sta..."
Before he could finish the word "status," the BOSS's body flickered with an eerie black light. In the next moment, her form blurred, leaving an afterimage as she instantly teleported out of their encirclement, appearing behind them.
A sneak attack?
Her wings spread and, with a single flap, a violent gust of wind swept through the cave, kicking up dust and debris that obscured everyone's vision. The next second, she was already flying away at high speed...
"She's trying to escape!"
The young man's expression changed. He pushed off the ground and led his team in pursuit. But when they got outside, all they saw was a faint red dot of light from the BOSS, which vanished in an instant.
The young man's face darkened, and the others were also dumbfounded.
"What kind of skill was that? It's insane! It completely removed all our negative status effects."
The young man lowered his eyes, a covetous gleam within them. "It must be the skill 'Break Free and Shift.' It truly lives up to its reputation. But this makes the BOSS even harder to deal with."
"This dungeon is strange. The species being the rare Scorpion-Tail is one thing, but this BOSS is also off. Lin Qing, what's the plan now?"
Lin Qing looked up at the sky and suddenly said, "She's expended a lot of energy and is in labor. She'll definitely need a lot of energy."
Another person mused, "To the farm?"
Lin Qing shook his head. "She'll hide for a few days to recover first... Otherwise, by the time she reaches the farm, it'll be no different from facing us."
Lin Qing rubbed his fingers together. "If the people at the farm can withstand the previous locust swarms, it means their overall strength exceeds my predictions. There are a few tough nuts in there worth noting. Let them fight this BOSS for a bit..."
The team members exchanged glances, instantly understanding. Cruel smiles appeared on their faces.
They were familiar with this tactic; it was how they had made their name in the beginning—by playing the role of the oriole stalking from behind.
They had already forgotten the faces of the first team they had ambushed and robbed, but they remembered they were all fools. Trusting others in a dungeon was practically a death sentence.
Using their lives and resources to cultivate a powerful team like theirs—that was the true meaning of a dungeon.
This dungeon had to be the same.
After the girl, Chen Xiaoling, and her group joined Ah Qi's team, they went out to hunt some mobs. Although the quantity wasn't large, thanks to Ah Qi's powerful intellect and strategic planning, the hunt was remarkably stable.
It was too stable. Every step was calculated, luring and ambushing monsters one by one. In the end, everyone's gains were quite substantial. Most importantly, the two groups in the team originally held grudges against each other and couldn't possibly trust one another completely. Some had planned to just go through the motions before returning to the farm. But as they fought, they found the rewards were steady and the team was strong enough that there was little danger. Who wouldn't love that?
So they stayed, hunting for a full two hours. The ones who had been robbed managed to earn back half of what they had lost, and their mindset shifted once again.
"Shall we continue tomorrow night?" one person couldn't help but ask, glancing at Chen Xiaoling's group. Chen Xiaoling rolled her eyes. "I'm definitely continuing. I'm not afraid of danger. It just depends on whether Sister Ah Qi wants to lead the team."
Her words implied, Are you saying we're scared?
The five-person team felt annoyed and rolled their eyes back, declaring they would join as well.
Groundhog thought to himself that profit was indeed the most stable agreement between living beings. No loyalty could compare to the effectiveness of a steady income.
"It depends on the situation. I can't make a decision right now," Ah Qi said before leading them back. The others assumed her "situation" referred to the locust swarm and the farm, but only Groundhog knew it depended on their "captain."
Upon returning to the farm, they found the defense was indeed struggling, but it wasn't as bad as they had feared. This was mainly because the locust swarm also had a biological fatigue curve. By the time they returned, they were just in time to relieve the exhausted defenders.
"You guys went out for a hunt, but you look like you just had a massage. So full of energy. Isn't it dangerous out there?" They were all Arcanists; everyone knew some people would go out to hunt. But seeing the state of those returning, they couldn't help but feel suspicious.
They couldn't very well say that their hunt had been exceptionally stable, aside from some initial internal strife, an assassination attempt, and being ambushed and robbed by a ridiculously skilled expert. There wasn't much else to report.
With people out hunting, who was left to defend the farm?
One person said, "It was dangerous, but our captain is amazing, and we're united!"
Another added, "That's right, we're super united, helping and trusting each other, making steady progress."
A third person chimed in, "But people died."
And a fourth, "Damn those evil locusts!"
Seeing the blood on them, the others believed their story. Through their words, everyone came to know Ah Qi and Groundhog, and their trust in the pair grew. It was important to note that most of the people remaining at the farm were not affiliated with the Xie or Teng Family; they were neutral. Seeing these people rally around Ah Qi, they began to have their own thoughts, fearing they would be isolated... Subtly, they began to waver, discussing internally whether to ally with Ah Qi.
At that moment, Groundhog and Ah Qi were using their break to organize their resources.
In the room, Groundhog was beaming with joy. While counting, he said, "So much! These people are quite capable. People really are the primary productive force. But our earnings still aren't as much as when we're with the captain."
Ah Qi replied, "With more people, the loot is split. And we were farming low-level resources. With her, we can tackle higher-level content. It's different."
While reloading his ammunition, Groundhog glanced out the window. "She's not at the farm, yet she's so strong on her own. I wonder what her plans are. Should we wait for her instructions?"
Ah Qi hummed in agreement, deep in thought. "She's trying to prevent internal conflict at the farm. But by having me rally these people... she might be wary of the Xie Clan and Teng Family. We need to hurry."
Hurry with what?
Ah Qi finished organizing her things and turned her face from the lamplight. "We need to gather these people before the hunting parties from the Xie Clan and Teng Family return. A three-way balance of power is actually the most stable situation, because everyone has to be wary of the third party. We can't let those two sides divide the remaining people, creating a two-sided standoff."
The two of them quickly consumed and replenished some resources before going out to join the night watch. Their original team reformed, and Ah Qi no longer held back her abilities, providing a steady stream of damage that quickly outshone the others. This gave many people confidence, and soon, their team grew even larger.
"They're back!"
When Xie Guangyu returned with his people, his eyelid twitched the moment he entered the farm.
Something was different.
The atmosphere had changed.
This wasn't good. These people seemed to have stabilized.
Xie Guangyu's gaze shifted to Ah Qi.
He knew he was a step too late.
Before long, the Teng Family members also arrived. Both groups looked haggard and dejected, and the atmosphere between them was hostile.
This stood in stark contrast to the "united and friendly" hunting party. For many of the unaffiliated Arcanists, it was obviously safer to join a simple hunting party. The Xie Clan and Teng Family had an old feud; they could easily become cannon fodder if they got involved.
"Since everyone is here, let's have a discussion between our three sides."
Xie Guangyu chose to strike first. "I have intelligence that if we don't unite, the entire farm will be wiped out."
As soon as he said this, everyone became alert and wary.
Xie Guangyu used his intelligence to seize control of the conversation, trying to establish himself as the leader. The Teng Family was unwilling and looked towards Ah Qi's side, but Ah Qi didn't care whether he became the leader or not.
With the battle confined to the farm and so many people present, the scope for troublemaking was limited. Besides, she could tell that this Xie Guangyu was genuinely afraid of someone.
Just now, she had heard the two sides accusing each other, each seemingly convinced the other had ambushed them.
Groundhog winked and secretly mentioned to Ah Qi, "Why do I get the feeling it was that group?"
Ah Qi paused, and a thought suddenly occurred to her: Then the captain must also be wary of that group. Could she have done something? Perhaps she was the one who ambushed both sides, framing that other group, which would also serve to prepare the people at the farm and pressure them to stop their infighting.
Ah Qi glanced impassively at the members of the Xie Clan and Teng Family and suddenly said, "I just want to survive this dungeon. I don't care who becomes the leader. But let me remind you, because the number of locusts has surged beyond expectations, the farm's resources are being consumed rapidly. They will likely be depleted in less than three days. I hope everyone can avoid pointless internal conflict. Having a few more people die to save a little food is not an effective way to conserve resources."
"If one side harms another for personal gain and disrupts the balance, I don't mind siding with the victim."
"By the way, we also encountered a very strong assassin tonight. Their methods were cruel, and their survivability was especially high. They must be from that team."
She tugged on Groundhog's tail, and he immediately jumped out. "Yes, yes! I've run into that group before. They attacked me with an airship. Luckily, I can burrow. I escaped into a river and fled downstream."
His firsthand account, which was true, immediately caught the attention of Xie Guangyu and the others. Xie Guangyu sized up Groundhog and asked, "How many of them were there? What kind of airship were they using?"
"There were at least ten of them. I couldn't see their faces clearly; I had already escaped by the time they landed. But I remember the model and license plate of the airship. It was a medium-sized Falcon 813, equipped with long-range cannons. The license plate was..."
This was as good as revealing their identities. Xie Guangyu immediately connected it to his previous suspicions.
Damn it, it really was them.
"You must be talking about Lin Qing's group. Damn it, they're one of the most notorious teams in the Tianniu Arena. They're known as the Backstabbing Dogs, famous for betraying their allies and preying on others."
Chen Xiaoling, though just a young girl, also cursed, as if she had suffered at their hands before. The expressions of many others in the crowd turned ugly.
Because while Lin Qing and his group had a terrible reputation, their strength was truly terrifying.
"That Lin Qing is cunning and extremely difficult to deal with, a master of analysis and planning. And the team leaders, Wang Heng and Xu Guangbiao, are all level 15 Arcanists. I heard their team alone can take down a level 10 Green-tier BOSS. Many teams of level 20 Arcanists are unwilling to face them because their methods are so vicious."
Their infamy was widespread, but their power was terrifying. What rotten luck had they run into to encounter this group?
"It's just a small level 5 dungeon, how did we attract them..."
"No, this dungeon is clearly not what it seems. Their arrival only proves its depth. If we can survive this, it will be an opportunity."
Someone thought about it from a different perspective and actually felt excited.
Then, Groundhog, who was munching on a sweet melon given by the farm tenants to quench their thirst, subconsciously added, "What if we all die? Then it'll be their opportunity, right?"
The atmosphere instantly turned gloomy... Even the faces of the Xie Clan and Teng Family members darkened.
This Ah Qi was a formidable character, but this fat groundhog was truly infuriating. Can't you just eat your melon and keep your mouth shut?
Perhaps sensing the unfriendly gazes, Groundhog grumbled to himself: These people have no sense of humor. So quick to anger. Not at all like the captain, who's always so composed.
He wondered what she was doing now.
She couldn't be plotting to kill that scumbag farm owner, Xie, could she?
The clock on the wall ticked away, second by second.
In the farm owner's room, the light emanating from the scroll floating in mid-air grew weaker and weaker, but it hadn't completely vanished. Suddenly, it extinguished on its own. A small vortex appeared, and a person emerged from it, their pale fingers grasping the scroll.
The scroll closed and ignited in her palm, eventually turning to ash.
"The scroll's duration is seventy-two hours, but if there's any external interference, I'll know and can come out early. I was worried something would happen too soon, wasting this scroll. I didn't expect to last until it was completely used up."
That also meant something had gone wrong between that group and the BOSS.
Before entering the scroll, she had assumed that if the group successfully defeated the BOSS, they would need a day to process the resources before coming to the farm to harvest the remaining survivors. However, given their cunning and ruthless style, they wouldn't launch a direct assault. There were too many people at the farm; strength in numbers. Even though their team was full of experts, they couldn't possibly defeat over a hundred people. So, they would wait until the people at the farm and the locust swarm had worn each other down before making their move. This would take another day or two.
So, Fu Chuan's original estimate was two days.
But now, three days had passed, and they still hadn't attacked the farm. There could only be one reason.
"They actually failed to take down the BOSS. That doesn't make sense, I even poisoned it... unless the BOSS escaped before its health was critical."
Fu Chuan had been evaluating the queen based on the capabilities of a level 10 Green-tier BOSS and felt something was off. That group was so strong, and they had lured out all the mobs. Did it really have the ability to escape?
But its escape was the only explanation for the current situation.
As Fu Chuan pondered this, she opened her attribute panel.
Level: 9
Main Attributes:
Mental Power: 3390 (Initial Mental Power 1+99)
Strength: 8030 (Initial Strength 1+18)
Constitution: 7400 (Initial Constitution 3+15)
Agility: 12230 (Initial Agility 2+25)
Skill Points: Arcane Missile LV9, Flame Blast LV9, Forest Thorns LV9, Azure Radiance Feather LV5, Locust's Stun LV2, Interrupt LV1.
Her mental power had increased by a third. This was the power of the scroll.
The poor rely on mutation, the rich on technology.
This rare and expensive scroll had allowed Fu Chuan to close a small gap in a short amount of time.
"It's a pity that resources like this are hard to come by. If I really had to seek them out, the price would be unbearable."
Fu Chuan calculated the seventy to eighty million copper coins she had on hand. "I could probably buy one, but I still need to buy the S1 Gene Key. And the effect of this insect blood bead is really good; it directly enhanced my poison needle ability."
She raised her hand. The speed at which the poison needle condensed at her fingertip was much faster, and the needle itself was much more potent than before, basically on par with the poison needle of that mini-BOSS.
She wanted all the resources. She had money, but not enough.
Fu Chuan felt a headache coming on. She then looked at the locust perched on a branch of her Gene Tree and had an idea.
The S1 Gene Key and meditation could be obtained and improved through other means, but racial talents were both powerful and rare, representing an absolute advantage.
She had to spend her money on this.
Suddenly, she heard a commotion downstairs.
Soon, someone knocked on her door.
"Young Master, Young Master, they're holding a meeting now and require your presence."
Fu Chuan raised an eyebrow slightly. So sudden? Those teams downstairs should have been fine with just Ah Qi. Why were they looking for her?
"Got it, I'll be right there."
Fu Chuan quickly tidied up, transformed into Xie Keli's appearance, and went downstairs.
But what Fu Chuan didn't know was that not long after she left, a sneaky black figure on the roof dropped something down the chimney.
With a soft thud, the small object landed in the pile of charcoal in the second-floor room's fireplace. As it burned, a faint gas was slowly released from the chimney.
Comments
Post a Comment