Chapter 88: The Lord Behind the Swamp (Two in One)

Several team members first produced a large piece of Exotic Species’ rotted flesh, already prepared as bait. This was the carcass of a mongoose caught in the Rocky Wilderness, a Second-Tier animal-type Exotic Species, ideal for luring the carrion-eating Ghost Crabs. Landmines, fuses, and bait were all set. The group waited quietly for the Ghost Crabs to appear. They hid in the filthy swamp, doing their best to conceal their scents and silhouettes. The private teams of Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals differed from individual mercenaries; besides generous rewards and the astonishing effects of their medicated serums, they truly had to risk their lives. For example, before members of Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals ventured beyond the Wall, everyone in the team had to inject something called Slow-Death Medicated Serum. Just as the name suggested, its effect was to delay death, allowing one to avoid immediate demise from excessive blood loss when critically injured. This was a medicated serum with significant effects, proving highly effective in both personal combat and confrontations with Exotic Species. The mortality rate for Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals’ external teams was very high. They were a biotech company, not a charity, so they didn’t carry freeloaders. If you took their money, you had to be prepared to die for it, no exceptions. Hiding among the crowd, Zhou Laibing felt something was amiss. He had already used both his thermal imaging device and his C-152 interval scanner. This area should be problem-free, he thought, yet I can’t shake this feeling of being watched. He kept looking around, hoping to spot something. "What’s wrong with Old Zhou?" Wu Sen asked, noticing Zhou Laibing’s uneasy expression. "Nothing, just not feeling quite right." Wu Sen also scanned the surroundings. He had checked this area many times; the swamp was bare except for some withered tree trunks. Indeed, nothing dangerous had been spotted. Yet, the experienced Wu Sen remained vigilant and cautioned Zhou Laibing, "Stay alert." "Yes." Nearby, Chu Qi also noticed the scout Zhou Laibing’s uneasy expression. She showed no outward emotion, remaining calm as she quietly took out some special medicated serums previously provided by the company, just in case. The team waited for some time before a buzzing, rumbling noise came from a swamp cave not far ahead. Wu Sen and the others knew the Ghost Crabs had emerged. Now, they just needed to wait a little longer. POP! The Ghost Crab burst out of the muddy swamp. After a moment of wariness, it headed towards the bait. Wu Sen had already raised his hand, ready to give the order, waiting only for the Ghost Crab to get close to the bait. As the Ghost Crab approached, he waved his hand sharply. "Detonate!" BOOM! An explosion erupted, splattering mud everywhere. The Ghost Crab had just settled next to the bait when the bomb hidden inside the flesh detonated with a thunderous roar. The Ghost Crab was knocked off its feet, stumbling. "Fire! Suppress!" RATATATATA! What followed was a dense barrage from the Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals squad. The concentrated fire prevented the Ghost Crab from even raising its head. Although the bullets, lacking Dark Energy, only left minor scratches on the Third-Tier Exotic Species’ tough carapace, this didn’t mean the attack was ineffective. The sheer intensity of the fire forced the Ghost Crab to shield its eyes and mouthparts with its pincers. The Ghost Crab, like other Exotic Species, followed its instinct for self-preservation. It could feel pain, so it prioritized defense as long as its armor could withstand the attacks. This normally wouldn’t be an issue. The problem was its opponents were human; in terms of cunning and tactics, humans were far superior to Exotic Species. Moreover, human methods of attack were far more numerous than those of Exotic Species. The Ghost Crab’s decision to defend gave the Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals squad ample opportunity to attack. "He Qiang, prepare the B3 high-polymer armor-piercing bomb!" "Yes!" A team member named He Qiang’s expression turned stern. Although the salary and benefits for his role as an armor-piercing bomb specialist were high, the risks involved were equally substantial. Now that the battle had reached a critical stage, he knew what he had to do. He Qiang quickly unslung his backpack, set the B3 bomb for directional detonation, and rapidly approached the Ghost Crab. The Ghost Crab, suppressed by gunfire, paid He Qiang no mind. He unsuspectingly placed the B3 bomb between two of its legs. Good, that went smoothly, He Qiang thought with a trace of satisfaction, but as he was about to withdraw— THWACK! Suddenly, a crab leg shot out, piercing through He Qiang’s chest. This was what made the Ghost Crab so formidable: its legs were incredibly sharp. If it had focused its attacks on their squad, even if they could win, their losses would have been severe. Several team members cried out in alarm. They wouldn’t normally be concerned about He Qiang’s critical injury itself, but if the Ghost Crab got up and charged at that moment, the B3’s explosion would undoubtedly affect everyone. Consequently, the team members grew somewhat panicked, and their shooting rhythm became erratic. At times like this, a strong voice was needed to lead everyone. "Don’t lose your shooting rhythm! Hold steady! Don’t skimp on ammunition, we have plenty of bullets! Retreat slowly, continue suppression, and wait for the B3 to explode!" Wu Sen’s commands remained highly effective. Under his guidance, the team members began an orderly retreat. After withdrawing to a safe distance, they resumed suppressing the Ghost Crab with firepower. The Slow-Death Medicated Serum ensured He Qiang wouldn’t die immediately. He watched his teammates in agony. But their expressions showed no sympathy, only indifference. He Qiang knew they wouldn’t try to save him now. Outside the Wall, everyone was cold, at least within Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals. "Boss, help me ask for more compensation! Get it to my mom!" Hearing this, Wu Sen finally turned his gaze and nodded at He Qiang. "Don’t worry. I’ll do everything that needs to be done!" He Qiang laughed, a sound that was part self-mockery, part derision. "Heh, thanks, Boss." He Qiang pressed the B3 bomb’s manual detonation button. BOOM! The B3 exploded. The Ghost Crab’s two left legs were blown off instantly, and its remaining legs were also injured. The carapace protecting its torso was blasted open, leaving a large hole. The Ghost Crab lost its balance from the blast, swaying before collapsing into the black mire. The B3’s directional explosive power was truly astonishing. Although one person had died, Wu Sen’s eyes were still full of mirth. Only one person died! he thought. This is far smoother than expected! He had originally anticipated around five deaths. To venture into a place like the Maternal Swamps and take down a Ghost Crab with only one casualty was an incredibly smooth operation. What could be more successful than this? Once he returned with enough blood sacs, he would receive a large bonus, resources, and the support of high-grade medicated serums from the company. The more Wu Sen thought about it, the happier he became. His eyes began to wander over the female team members, especially Chu Qi’s young and vibrant body. The wounded Ghost Crab flew into a rage, but as it struggled through the mire, it had already lost the ability to threaten the Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals team. "Continue firing! Don’t be stingy with grenades! Blast it to death; I’ll cover the cost later!" Wu Sen’s order invigorated everyone, and explosions thundered relentlessly. Even Wu Sen himself pulled out a very special revolver. The caliber of this handgun was massive, resembling a hand cannon. Wu Sen fired two consecutive shots, one at the mouthparts and the other at the previously shattered section of the shell. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The massive explosions tore the unprotected Ghost Crab apart, sending flesh and blood flying. This powerful Third-Tier Exotic Species finally fell. "Nice! It’s down, it’s down! We’ve struck it rich this time!" Seeing the Ghost Crab fall, the members of Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals shouted excitedly. No one was unhappy about such a smooth operation. Except, of course, for Chu Qi. After the Ghost Crab had fallen, the Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals members formed groups of three and began hunting the Rainbow Blood Mosquitoes hiding nearby. Without the Ghost Crab’s protection, the Rainbow Blood Mosquitoes’ combat ability was negligible. They were mercilessly harvested by the well-equipped Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals team. Amidst their hunt, no one from the Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals team noticed a pair of triangular eyes emerge from a nearby swamp, carefully observing them. The Maternal Hydraling was a creature resembling an otter. Compared to other Fifth-Tier Lords, its size wasn’t particularly large. Excluding its tail, it was about five meters long. It was amphibious, capable of traversing muddy swamps. This might sound like a type of swamp creature, but the true form of the Maternal Hydraling was a Deformed-type Exotic Species, specifically a regenerative mutant. Beneath its thick fur lay an incredibly terrifying face: a forest of chaotically arranged, sharp teeth and foul-smelling tear ducts. It was utterly hideous. "Maternal" in its name didn’t imply it acted together with its young. It possessed a ventral pouch, and the core within this pouch was the true body of the Maternal Hydraling—the source of its mutation. If the core wasn’t destroyed, the Maternal Hydraling would regenerate endlessly, effectively immortal. The core in the ventral pouch, like a child protected by its mother, was why it was named the Maternal Hydraling. This critical information had been obtained at the cost of an entire Hunter team’s lives. Normally, the Maternal Hydraling fed on Ghost Crabs, but sometimes it would venture into the Rocky Wilderness to snack on other Exotic Species. The Maternal Hydraling lurked near the Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals team, its gaze shifting between the Ghost Crab’s corpse and the team members. Its slick black eyes darted about as it pondered: Which would be tastier, a group of rare humans or a ready-made Ghost Crab? "Chu Qi, don’t go collecting blood sacs. Process the Ghost Crab’s corpse. Remove the crab roe and eyeballs; we’re taking them with us." Collecting blood sacs was a very profitable job. The company allowed employees to take 25% of the external earnings, so everyone wanted to do it, as it concerned future income and resources. Chu Qi also needed a lot of resources, so she glanced at Wu Sen, who was also looking at her. Wu Sen’s thinking was simple. Chu Qi should come and beg me. If she disagrees? No problem. There are plenty of fiery women out there; a little ’persuasion’ will make them compliant. However, Chu Qi showed no dissatisfaction. Instead, she quietly nodded in compliance. My body is an important bargaining chip, she thought. It shouldn’t be wasted here, not on Wu Sen. When I return this time, the inspection by Blue Sky Biotech’s head office will happen. That will be my chance to turn things around. Maintaining her vigilance, Chu Qi quietly approached the Ghost Crab. Only after confirming it was dead did she begin to cut out its eyeballs. At that very moment, the Maternal Hydraling hiding in the swamp seemed to have decided. It began to move through the swamp, approaching the Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals team. I’ve eaten too many Ghost Crabs; there’s no novelty in eating more, it thought. Humans, on the other hand, are rare. Their life energy isn’t high, but they’re fresh and delicious. Just as Chu Qi finished cutting an eyeball from the Ghost Crab, she suddenly noticed a large bulge moving past her feet, rapidly approaching the group. What’s that? A bubble in the swamp? No, this bubble is moving horizontally... and in this direction? While she was still puzzling over it, the submerged bulge began to expand. FWOOSH! The Maternal Hydraling suddenly burst forth from the swamp, revealing its terrifying, twisted visage among the crowd before biting a person in half. The sudden attack dumbfounded everyone. They froze, then began to flee frantically. "This... this can’t be the Hydraling, can it? The Maternal Hydraling! It really is the Maternal Hydraling! Run!" Chu Qi reacted just as quickly. As if prepared, she grabbed one of the Ghost Crab’s eyeballs and sprinted towards the Rocky Wilderness. Having already taken a stamina-boosting potion, she could maintain a high running speed for a considerable time. Before heading to Zone C13, they had all done their homework. The Maternal Hydraling wasn’t particularly strong among Fifth-Tier Exotic Species; it could even be considered a very weak Lord. However, a Lord was still a Lord, definitely not something these small fries could handle. A Lord represented the ruler of a region. Only the mightiest Hunter teams, along with the Inner Ring Constabulary Corps and the Church’s elite, could deal with such Exotic Species. For private teams from companies in the Fourth Ring like theirs, encountering a Fifth-Tier Exotic Species meant only one option: run. "It’s early February! Shouldn’t the Maternal Hydraling be hibernating? Which idiot gave us this intel?" "How would I know— AHH!" The second person hadn’t finished speaking before being dragged into the swamp by the Maternal Hydraling. Faced with a Fifth-Tier Exotic Species—possessing immense speed, strength, and explosive power—all anyone could do was run. When a Fifth-Tier Exotic Species charged into a crowd, the only outcome was carnage. With another snatch and bite, the Maternal Hydraling killed two more people. Wu Sen’s face was grim. The operation had been going smoothly, but the Maternal Hydraling’s appearance had ruined everything. It wasn’t just about the profits anymore. If they didn’t handle the Hydraling correctly, he himself might die here. "Give me all the flashbangs!" "Yes!" Wu Sen took the flashbangs handed over by his team members, pulled the pins from a dozen or so, and threw them towards the Hydraling. These flashbangs didn’t detonate immediately upon impact. The Maternal Hydraling curiously picked up one of the small cylindrical objects. It carefully pinched one between two fingers, scrutinizing it closely. A sudden intense flash seared the Maternal Hydraling’s eyes. As a creature accustomed to the dark swamp, the light was unbearable. "SCREEECH!" The Hydraling shrieked, shaking its head violently. The intense pain in its eyes from the flashbang gave Wu Sen and the others a chance to escape. In their desperate escape, many had discarded their packs, keeping only weapons, blood sacs, and a little food. They didn’t need to be the fastest—just faster than their companions. The grim logic of "better you than me" applied universally in these situations. In times like these, the physical advantage of men became apparent. Apart from Chu Qi, who ran near the front, the other female team members lagged at the rear. Behind them, the Maternal Hydraling’s vision gradually cleared. It glanced at the Ghost Crab’s corpse. It’s a shame to waste ready-made food, it mused. Yet, its fury at being blinded by the flashbangs overwhelmed its hunger. It plunged back into the swamp, swiftly swimming after the fleeing Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals team.