Full-Time Public Enemy

The victor felt a sense of foreboding. Sure enough, Chen Gu went over and ruthlessly rapped it on the head.

THUD!

The victor's head was knocked so hard it smashed into the rocks.

It pulled its head out, bringing a mass of broken stones with it. After repeatedly weighing its options, it still didn't dare to turn on Chen Gu. The main reason was the feeling that it had no chance of winning.

Chen Gu spoke indifferently, "You probably understand what I'm saying. I know you do."

The victor did not respond.

Chen Gu paid it no mind and continued, "Those bugs are targeting you. Their numbers are incredibly vast; they are a powerful group capable of dominating the entire Star Sea."

"They've set their sights on you, and they will send out an even larger swarm, scouring the entire planet. You'll have no place to hide."

"And I cannot allow you to fall into their hands. So, if you leave me no other choice, I can only kill you. Hmm, it might be a bit cruel—the kind of killing that would leave not even your bones."

The victor trotted up and affectionately nuzzled Chen Gu with its head.

Chen Gu smiled as Gong Shuxu and the others caught up from behind. Chen Gu patted the victor's head and mused for a moment, "Since you've decided to follow us, it's time to give you a name."

Chen Gu tilted his head, looking at the victor. "You see... how should I put it? You're quite a bit short of a true super life form. A true super life form has the stature of a Phoenix, but you... you look more like a chicken. However, your combat ability is still pretty good. Let's just call you 'Combat Rooster'."

The victor didn't understand how utterly conscienceless this name was. At that moment, it only wanted to show its "affection" for Chen Gu, cheerfully circling him a few times, bobbing its head and wagging its tail.

Lisa looked disdainful upon hearing the name, and Ma Shuwen almost burst out laughing. A look of relief crossed Gong Shuxu's face. Still the same vexing Brain Domain Hacker.

Elton, however, nodded in approval. "Good name."

Everyone else, including Chen Gu, looked at him in surprise.

Elton was taken aback. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," they all shook their heads together.

Gong Shuxu said, "Alright, let's not waste any more time. There are still four victors left, and we must stop the Insect Race from capturing them."

Combat Rooster—the powerful Energy Gathering Mechanical Species and future super life form—shook its tail, approached Chen Gu, and growled towards a particular direction in the cave.

Chen Gu was puzzled. "What do you mean? Can you find the other victors?"

Combat Rooster nodded its head.

Gong Shuxu also nodded. "The victors still compete with one another. Presumably, killing the other victors would make their path to becoming a super life form much smoother. As a result, they can actually sense each other's approximate locations."

Combat Rooster nodded repeatedly.

They couldn't express these things as clearly as Gong Shuxu did, but some instinct told them what to do for their own benefit.

"Lead the way," Chen Gu said, glaring at Combat Rooster.

This creature is quite cunning, Chen Gu realized. It wants to use us to deal with its own competitors.

Combat Rooster cheerfully ran ahead. It couldn't clearly express that this mutual sensing ability could actually be turned off voluntarily.

For example, after it broke away from the main group, it had turned off that sense. At that time, it had become frightened and prepared to flee for its life.

But the other victors all had their senses switched on. They were all ambitious, hoping to kill off the other victors as soon as possible.

「…」

Deep within the Insect Race's nest in the rear, they had planned for a long time. Just when the genetic chain seemed within reach, their efforts came to naught. The Empress screamed repeatedly, venting her fury for a good ten minutes or so. The entire nest teetered on the verge of collapse, and the other Insect Race members were as silent as cicadas in winter.

Just then, an image was transmitted back, and the Empress's anger finally turned to joy.

The image showed a vast, flat wasteland. Swarms of insects surrounded it, constantly converging inward from all directions.

Enclosed by their ranks was a group of mechanical beings from beyond the stars, numbering a few thousand. Each one was exceedingly powerful, and they protected a victor at their center.

The Empress let out another scream, urging her children, "Quick, quick, quick! Take them down for me! I want that genetic chain!"

"Complete the task, and you will be amply rewarded. But if you can't bring back the genetic chain, don't bother returning."

Among the swarm, there was also a Troop Nest Beetle that relayed the Empress's command to every member of the Insect Race. The swarm instantly became agitated and recklessly charged toward the mechanical beings from beyond the stars.

The mechanical beings roared, tearing the insects before them to shreds. However, more insects surged in from behind, and slowly, the mechanical beings were whittled down.

This particular swarm was the largest group of the Insect Race that had last landed, numbering over a hundred thousand. Annihilating a few thousand mechanical beings from beyond the stars was, therefore, no problem at all.

The victor led its kin in desperate charges left and right, hoping to break through an opening to escape. But a dense mass of the Insect Race surrounded them. They made numerous efforts, but each time, the Insect Race, heedless of casualties, fiercely repelled them.

The number of mechanical beings from beyond the stars beside the victor dwindled until, finally, it was left alone.

But the mechanical beings were indeed formidable; their few thousand had managed to slay over ten thousand insects.

The victor kept roaring, a hint of impotent fury in its cries. Yet, having received the favor of a super life form, it was confident it could at least escape, even if its kin were almost entirely wiped out.

Even during an escape, my own kin are just a burden, it thought.

It picked a target and charged, truly crushing everything in its path; even a Blazing Mammoth Bug was dispatched with a single swipe of its claw.

It was like a sharp blade effortlessly slicing through tofu, easily cleaving a gap in the Insect Race's blockade.

In the nest, the Empress hadn't expected this victor to be so fierce. But the fiercer it was, the more excited she became. This indicated that the genetic chain's effects exceeded her expectations.

The Empress screamed out commands. Soon, at the rear of the swarm, Armor-Piercing Arrow Bugs began to rally.

Hundreds of Armor-Piercing Arrow Bugs formed arrays. Receiving the Empress's orders, they disregarded friendly fire and simultaneously unleashed their sharp arrow-spines!

The victor had never anticipated such an attack from the Insect Race while it was locked in a life-or-death struggle with them.

Taken completely by surprise, a multitude of sharp arrow-spines rained down around the victor, instantly blasting the area into chaos!

Dozens of Blazing Mammoth Bugs, hundreds of giant Ghost Claw Beetles, and countless other insects perished on the spot in that barrage.

The victor, too, was hit by four sharp arrow-spines in succession.

Two of the arrow-spines struck vulnerable areas. As the second wave of attacks came, it was blasted to the ground. It rolled continuously, now powerless to escape.