CHAPTER 148: CHAPTER 148: THE SHADOW EMPEROR AMONG MEN, THE RED RABBIT AMONG HORSES (1) THIRD UPDATE

The two made marks on the surrounding rocks—naturally, it was Chen Gu who did this arduous task. The President, dignified and aloof, was also looking for trouble after having been ridden for so long.

Chen Gu used his "Fiery Flag" throwing knife to carve a cross mark on a rock.

Qing Ruyan asked curiously, "Why did you choose this mark out of so many?"

Chen Gu feigned conscientiousness. "If I chose another mark, like a checkmark, and someone else got lost here in the future and saw it, they might think it’s the way out. Wouldn’t that be misleading them?"

"Then why not draw something like a circle?"

Chen Gu had his explanation. "If someone sees it, they’d be puzzled—what does this mean? They might come up with all sorts of reasons, all of which would be wrong—we can’t harm others."

Of course, the real reason was that a cross was relatively easier to draw and more conspicuous. He definitely thought about being lazy and just drawing a vertical or horizontal line, but what if he passed by later and missed it...

"A scumbag actually has a conscience? Haha," Qing Ruyan laughed it off.

Chen Gu didn’t argue with her. But he couldn’t understand: How did she know I was a scumbag? Who leaked this secret?

Making marks seemed quite effective. They walked for a long time without seeing any more marks, and Chen Gu breathed a sigh of relief. "We should have made it out."

Suddenly, Qing Ruyan raised her hand, and both of them stopped, straining their ears toward the faint sounds of battle coming from ahead.

Qing Ruyan gestured to him, and they crept forward quietly.

Chen Gu stepped on something. He picked it up and saw it was the corpse of an Energy Gathering Mechanical Species.

He showed it to Qing Ruyan. "Shot by a gun. They’re our people!"

Qing Ruyan immediately sped up. Soon, they appeared at the edge of the battlefield, using the shadows to conceal themselves. Looking out, they saw a huge dark shadow constantly changing shape, besieging Dora, trying to attack from different angles.

Dora clenched her teeth, her face turning beet red. Nine long and short guns floated around her, aiming in different directions. Whenever the dark shadow made its move, it was met with a barrage of powerful ammunition.

Big Rabbit had been forced into her strongest state, single-handedly controlling nine guns.

However, it was clear that she would not be able to hold on much longer in this state.

The dark shadow was also strange. It seemed hesitant; every attack was like a probe, lacking resolve. As soon as it met resistance, it would immediately retract.

It wants to capture someone alive? Qing Ruyan wondered. But what was even more surprising was her exclaimed realization, "Is this a Mutant? There are actually Mutants in the Yingudusi Devil’s Pit!"

Chen Gu switched to Griffin Wester’s memories, analyzing the situation with the eyes of a tactical master. Soon his expression turned strange. From certain details, he realized that not only was the dark shadow holding back, but its targets... how to put it... were the natural openings on Big Rabbit’s body. For instance, her facial orifices, or... well, other such places.

This Mutant is rather perverse, Chen Gu assessed.

Qing Ruyan snorted coldly. "Get ready to rescue!"

Qing Ruyan suddenly leaped out. Though her specific ability was unknown, the moment she appeared, the vast shadow faltered, momentarily distracted. It even forgot to attack Big Rabbit, who was already at her wit’s end.

Qing Ruyan landed gracefully, squatting down with her hands pressed to the sides of her body, staring intently at the shifting dark shadow.

If Chen Gu had been standing in front of her at that moment, he would certainly have seen shock, surprise, and then a slow comprehension in her complex expression.

The shadow was affected by Qing Ruyan’s ability. Qing Ruyan, in turn, seemed distracted by some "accidental discovery," and neither side made any further moves.

Chen Gu rushed out and asked Big Rabbit, "How are you?"

Big Rabbit pressed her lips tightly together and withdrew her abilities. Although very tired, she still grabbed a gun, ready to assist the President.

Compared to that shameful battle just now, what was a little fatigue?

Not only did Chen Gu realize where the shadow had attacked, but Big Rabbit, as the one in the predicament, was of course aware of it as well.

"I’m fine!" Dora said through clenched teeth. "This thing is very strange. Its whole body is liquid, and it can absorb Energy Gathering Mechanical Species to constantly enhance itself!"

Chen Gu nodded. "Mutants can evolve all sorts of bizarre abilities. I really didn’t expect these things to be hidden in the Yingudusi Devil’s Pit."

Dora aimed her gun but didn’t know what kind of ammunition to use against this thing.

Qing Ruyan confronted the black liquid. It had grown several times larger than when it first appeared. Suddenly, it shuddered, and Qing Ruyan seemed to struggle, her ability no longer enough to suppress her opponent.

Chen Gu, watching from behind, was secretly puzzled. It seemed that Qing Ruyan’s abilities were very effective against individual entities, even capable of suppressing such monsters. But when faced with groups, like swarms of Energy Gathering Mechanical Species, they were useless. Similar to a ’Psychological Spy’... What exactly is her class, and what is her ability?

The black liquid, which had been in a standoff with Qing Ruyan, suddenly retreated, surprising her. However, she knew that defeating it would come at a great cost.

Now that Dora was rescued, a mutual withdrawal was an acceptable outcome. So, Qing Ruyan also cautiously backed away, not completely retracting her power, continuing to deter her opponent.

The two parties reached an unspoken agreement, and the black liquid swiftly disappeared into the surrounding darkness.

Just as Qing Ruyan breathed a sigh of relief, Chen Gu immediately came to her side and whispered quickly, "It’s a trick!"

Behind them, Big Rabbit’s long, sharp ears spun rapidly, then, with a BIU, pointed in the direction where the black liquid had vanished.

Without hesitation, she fired several shots into the darkness. "There’s still danger!"

When the black liquid retreated, Chen Gu’s ’Mind Belief’ hadn’t triggered any warnings. Yet, the moment the black slime completely vanished into the darkness, he suddenly sensed an immense threat.

Dora’s "elf ears" must have sensed the same thing.

What exactly is going on? Chen Gu grew more and more puzzled.

Qing Ruyan’s eyebrows instantly shot up like sharp swords. She thought she had been deceived by the cunning Mutant!

Chen Gu stood by her side and suddenly felt a moment of trance, which made him inwardly alarmed. He quietly moved a little distance away. This was clearly a minor side effect from Qing Ruyan fully unleashing her ability, accidentally affecting him.

Qing Ruyan, in her guise as the "President," operated at the Second Energy Level. Chen Gu estimated that her actual strength was at least that of the Second Energy Level.

Dora’s high-powered energy bullets shot into that patch of darkness, followed by a clinking sound as the bullets sparked bright flashes, momentarily illuminating something in the darkness before it vanished.