CHAPTER 143: CHAPTER 143: THERE IS A CARVING STANDING ON THE SAND (3)

Chen Gu spread his hands. "Remember the birdcage I mentioned earlier? We need to put some rice in it. Otherwise, why would the birds come? Since you’re going to step forward, just be the bait this once. You don’t expect us to be bait, do you?"

Apart from Gloves, everyone else shook their heads simultaneously, their movements once again perfectly synchronized.

Qing Ruyan had already separated the two of them from her ability’s influence and urged, "Go now!"

Above their heads, the Avian Mechanical Species let out a cheerful and loud cry, then dove swiftly.

Gloves had no choice, even if he was unwilling. He dragged Old Desert along and they started preparing in a flurry.

They complained together, "Is this even a normal tactic? Who knows if your tactics can kill the enemy, but sooner or later they’re going to get your teammates killed!"

As the team leader, Hu Ling kindly reminded them, "Move farther away so you don’t drag us into this."

Gloves: "..."

Old Desert: "..."

The two ran a few hundred meters away. Old Desert lay down on the ground, transforming into a pool of flowing sand.

Gloves readied his ability, waiting for the Avian Mechanical Species to land. However, the mechanical bird dove, then suddenly circled back up at the last moment. It continuously revolved around Gloves in the sky, seemingly having noticed something and reluctant to descend.

Chen Gu became anxious. "Hop around a bit! Be lively! You need to act like a living creature!"

"You’re so calm, you don’t look like prey at all."

Gloves rolled his eyes. Waving his hands, he hopped, jumped, shouted, and yelled.

The Avian Mechanical Species circled doubtfully a few more times. Finally, just as Qing Ruyan looked like she was about to give out, it made a sudden dive.

Its claws stretched out towards Gloves. As it was about to hit the ground, it suddenly felt lighter beneath its wings. Its massive body lost support, CRASHING heavily to the ground and rolling away.

The huge metal creature’s impact was immense. The massive gust it created flung Gloves a dozen meters. Due to the collision, the Avian Mechanical Species lost control of its own body, and several chain hooks on its tail thrashed wildly.

Just as Gloves got up, something WHOOSHED past his face. He froze. Damn, that was close!

The chain hook grazed the tip of his nose, then SMASHED into the ground beside him, digging a deep trench.

The shaken Gloves heard his team leader shout from a distance, "Be careful—"

He instinctively turned to look, only to see a round, black shadow BUZZING and spinning rapidly towards him. He ducked, and the serrated disc flew over his head.

Gloves felt his scalp tingle. He touched his head—his hair had been neatly shaved off!

He stood numb for a moment, his legs growing weak, then slumped to the ground. He inwardly cursed Chen Gu, the "tactical mastermind," to high heaven. Is this *actually* a normal tactic?

BOOM!

A loud noise came from the side as the Avian Mechanical Species took off again. Gloves quickly asked, "Where’s Old Desert? Was it a success?"

The flowing sand on the ground was gone. Gloves looked up to see the Avian Mechanical Species soaring to an altitude of several thousand meters, some faint marks visible on its body.

Gloves let out a sigh of relief. Qing Ruyan lowered her hands, and everyone tumbled out from her ability’s protection, sprawling on the ground.

Qing Ruyan gasped for air, too tired to even move a finger.

In the sky, the sight of so many prey excited the Avian Mechanical Species. It CHIRPED eagerly and dove, but it felt somewhat uncomfortable.

After flying for a moment, its movements became erratic.

It gave up the attack and flew high to readjust. But somehow, the more it tried, the less right things felt.

After flying unsteadily for some time and still feeling awkward, it cried out in annoyance and turned to fly away.

Anyway, I’m not hungry. It doesn’t matter if I don’t eat these prey.

As it flew farther and farther, Old Desert panicked. This beast is charging straight towards the dense electromagnetic thunderclouds! Avian Mechanical Species surely have special parts to protect them from lightning, but I don’t have such abilities! I’ll be incinerated!

He actually had two options. One was to immediately detach from the Avian Mechanical Species and drift down with the wind. He definitely wouldn’t die from the fall. However, if his sand form scattered over thousands of square meters, or even further, regathering would be incredibly difficult. That was the safer choice.

The other option was to desperately infiltrate the Avian Mechanical Species’ body, hoping to disable it before it plunged into the thunderclouds.

Without hesitation, Old Desert executed the second plan—not because he was foolhardy, but because he... hadn’t even considered the first one.

So Chen Gu’s judgment was correct: Hu Ling’s team was indeed lacking in intelligence.

On the ground, Hu Ling’s group was dumbfounded. None of them had expected the Avian Mechanical Species to just give up and flee!

It took a while for Hu Ling to let out a strange cry. "Where is it taking Old Desert?"

With a ROAR, Hu Ling transformed and ran wildly in pursuit of the Avian Mechanical Species.

Qing Ruyan looked at Chen Gu. "In this situation, do you have a contingency plan?"

"Uh..." Chen Gu was embarrassed. He hadn’t anticipated this situation at all. He secretly decided that when devising tactics in the future, he would definitely incorporate Griffin Wester’s memories to review them and avoid such awkward scenarios. Indeed, compared to a true tactical master, I still have a long way to go.

The group scrambled to chase after Old Desert on the ground.

This unexpectedly bought Old Desert some time. The Avian Mechanical Species saw these prey daring to chase it. How dare they! It felt slightly offended.

It turned around for a dive, preparing to throw a couple of serrated discs to teach these audacious prey a lesson.

But it lost control halfway through its dive, twisting erratically in the air.

Unable to control its direction, it deviated severely from its target. It crashed dozens of meters away with a loud BANG, tumbling and becoming disoriented.

Hu Ling bravely charged forward and forcefully grabbed one of the Avian Mechanical Species’ wings.

The other Professionals quickly unleashed their abilities, attacking it.

The Avian Mechanical Species, furious, gave up flying and began fighting the Professionals on the ground.

The situation Chen Gu had worried about had occurred: this massive beast was still lethal even without flying.

Its wings were huge and powerful, swatting Hu Ling away like a baseball for hundreds of meters.

Its steel claws were deadly, its chain hooks agile, and it could intermittently release and retract the serrated discs.

The most terrifying was its sword-like beak; one hit would be fatal.

In the midst of the chaos, Chen Gu picked up Qing Ruyan and ran. The President’s energy was depleted, and Chen Gu, being an "ordinary person," had no choice but to flee.

Liu Shichan saw this and scoffed disdainfully, "So loyal to that old woman!"

In the midst of the battle, the Avian Mechanical Species suddenly cried out. A ball of blue electricity quickly formed within its beak.

CRACK!

The Avian Mechanical Species spat. Lightning, like a twisted spear, instantly pierced hundreds of meters of void, blasting a massive crater in the ground.

Boluo was the only one nearby. He screamed as he was sent flying, utterly perplexed. Why am I always the unlucky one?