CHAPTER 146: CHAPTER 146: RIDING ON MY HAPPY LITTLE PONY (1ST UPDATE)

Believe it or not, this speed really did increase significantly. The two of them were like a crude iron plow, shearing through clusters of Energy-Gathering Mechanical Insects that fell in swathes.

As Qing Ruyan was running wildly, suddenly, SNAP! She got smacked on her butt. Her whole body nearly went rigid, and she almost fell.

Chen Gu apologized, "Sorry, I got too immersed and reflexively cracked the whip..."

Qing Ruyan gritted her teeth, seething. Just you wait, you little brat! Once we get past this, I’ll definitely bad-mouth you to the Director-General and let her deal with you!

Then Qing Ruyan continued her mad dash, but a curious thought suddenly popped into her head: Where did this kid get a whip?

While on her back, Chen Gu quietly refastened his belt. Fortunately, from her position, Qing Ruyan couldn’t see if his pants had actually fallen. It could only be said that the motion felt familiar, a reflex from—Oh, my unrestrained youth from a past life!

In this lifetime, all that remained was running through the insect swarm.

Chen Gu thought, Good thing I have a mount.

The two sprinted onward, their coordination surprisingly perfect. Chen Gu was sweating profusely; large beads of sweat dripped down, landing on Qing Ruyan’s face. When she looked up and saw Chen Gu’s strenuous effort, the anger in her heart finally dissipated a bit.

Finally, an opening appeared before them. Qing Ruyan stumbled and fell, while Chen Gu tumbled away.

Qing Ruyan apologized repeatedly, "I exerted too much force; my legs went weak."

I’ll never admit I did it on purpose.

Chen Gu, dazed and battered, scrambled up with a swollen face and pulled Qing Ruyan. "Quick, those things are catching up!"

The two scrambled and tumbled a good distance away. The Energy-Gathering Mechanical Insects behind them lost their target and finally began to retreat, no longer pursuing.

Leaning against each other, they sat on the ground, both experiencing waves of lingering fear.

Hu Ling’s abilities were the least suited for this kind of situation. After transforming, he ran amok, crushing countless Energy-Gathering Mechanical Insects, but even more swarmed onto his body from all around.

He roared and swatted at them furiously, but the sheer number of insects was overwhelming. He had become separated from his teammates—stranded and alone!

The insects landed on him, their terrifying mandibles immediately piercing his body.

In his Hell Titan form, Hu Ling’s physical strength was dozens of times that of an ordinary person. Even if shot with large-caliber firearms, bullets would merely deform on impact with his skin and fall away.

However, these Energy-Gathering Mechanical Insects’ mandibles were exceptionally terrifying; they easily penetrated his skin and continued to drill into his flesh!

Hu Ling howled in agonizing pain. With a single slap, the Energy-Gathering Mechanical Insects that had burrowed into his skin were flattened within his body.

But there were simply too many insects. Soon, a mountain of them gathered, burying him underneath.

Hu Ling knew his end was near. He had always known this mission was extremely dangerous, but now, truly facing this moment, the profound fear of death made the tough man tremble, his heart filled with unwillingness.

Suddenly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out an object.

It was the serum Leder had given everyone at the start of the mission—a serum that could greatly enhance one’s physical attributes.

Although this serum seemed unlikely to help much in the current situation—even with enhanced attributes, without the right skills, it was still a dead end.

But a drowning man will clutch at straws.

Hu Ling forcefully injected the serum into his body. An indescribable pain surged through him, and he let out an inhuman wail as his body swelled once more.

His clothes were specially made with excellent elasticity, ensuring that even after transforming into the Hell Titan, he wouldn’t suffer the embarrassment of being exposed.

This time, however, his clothing was utterly shredded. After this new expansion, he became grotesquely misshapen: his lips tore, splitting his mouth into four parts, and sharp, hook-like fangs sprouted around them.

The hair at the back of his head transformed into a mass of writhing, fleshy tendrils.

His body sprouted a dense layer of dark scales, and four new arms grew beneath his original two.

ROAR—

He slammed a fist into the ground and roared at the sky.

The mountain of insects surrounding him was blasted away. The Energy-Gathering Mechanical Insects that had burrowed into his body were strangely drained of their energy and then assimilated.

At that moment, the surrounding Energy-Gathering Mechanical Insects reacted as if they had encountered something terrifying. They scrambled away frantically, bumping into each other in panic.

Hu Ling stood up and, opening his mouth, inhaled sharply at the fleeing Energy-Gathering Mechanical Insects!

His four-lobed mouth, lined with hooked fangs, gaped open, creating a vortex. He swallowed the Energy-Gathering Mechanical Insects in one gulp and began to chew vigorously.

His gaping maw stretched to an unbelievable size.

From a distance, his mouth was wildly disproportionate to his body—larger than his entire physique.

As he continued to chew and swallow, his mouth gradually shrank, though his body showed no other significant change.

After consuming a mouthful of Energy-Gathering Mechanical Insects, his now blood-red eyes glinted with an even greater hunger. He turned his head, searching, his large nostrils flaring. He quickly chose a direction and bolted off like a wild beast.

The instant the Hive outbreak began, Lao Mo transformed into a sheet of flowing sand, stealthily hiding and seeping away underground.

But the insects crawling all over him, burrowing in and out, made him extremely uncomfortable.

Although this caused him no substantial harm, it was certainly unpleasant to have things moving in and out of one’s body without permission or preparation.

If it’s serious, it’s a crime!

Lao Mo cursed inwardly: Damn it, that’s a nostril!

So itchy, stop squirming! I can barely hold on.

Damn it, you can’t just touch a man there!

OH—finally, one found the right spot... Comfortable...

Thanks to his experience with the Avian Mechanical Species, Glove had a knack for dealing with flying entities.

Whenever Energy-Gathering Mechanical Insects flew within a three-meter radius of him, they would instantly start flailing erratically like headless chickens before plummeting to the ground.

However, the fallen Energy-Gathering Mechanical Insects didn’t give up; they relentlessly crawled toward him. Glove, still only at the first Energy Level, had no other recourse but to flee. Fortunately, the insects crawled slowly on the ground.

Glove ran and ran, until suddenly the pursuing Energy-Gathering Mechanical Insects behind him all stopped. They hovered, seemingly hesitant, before finally buzzing away.

Glove caught his breath. Constantly using skills was a heavy burden, even for an adept.

He sat down on a rock, somewhat puzzled. Why did these little bugs stop chasing me?

I’ve heard that Mechanical Species, like wild beasts, have their own territories. Have I run out of theirs?

Then that raises a question: Whose territory am I in now?