HI3: Previous Civilization

The Devourer Bug emitted a sharp, piercing roar.

First, it glanced at Miyazawa Kazuto, then at Sakagami Tomoyo.

Subsequently, all its tentacles fixed their attention on Sakagami Tomoyo.

Then, like springs, they retracted all at once.

Tomoyo Sakagami observed the strange movements of the enormous bug, recalling the attack sound that had sliced through the air earlier.

She immediately made a judgment.

"Running is definitely not an option; I can only dodge at the moment of its attack, just like before—swiftly evading," she thought.

If she turned her back to the grotesque bug, it would undoubtedly mean death.

She tensed up, concentrating all her attention on the giant bug before her, daring not to blink even once.

'If I blink, those bizarre tentacles with large eyeballs will pierce through my chest,' she feared.

Miyazawa Kazuto and Sakagami Tomoyo both noticed a white figure suddenly appearing before the bug.

At that moment, the tentacles atop the Devourer Bug shot forward like a furious storm toward Fan.

"Be careful!"

Both Sakagami Tomoyo and Miyazawa Kazuto's pupils contracted simultaneously, and they let out different exclamations of surprise.

However, the scene that unfolded next left both of them utterly speechless.

Between them, the figure dressed in a white lab coat waved his hands repeatedly, almost like afterimages.

He even shouted, "Moku-da! Moku-da! Moku-da! Moku-da…"

He swiftly caught those high-velocity tentacles—also known as flagella—and smashed them to pieces.

Watching both of them gape in astonishment, the junior members nearby dropped their jaws in disbelief.

Then, Fan let out a chilling laugh, "Heh heh heh…"

And said, "Thank you for turning into my sustenance to grow stronger."

Immediately after, he pulled a large syringe from behind his back. "Hand over your genes."

The Devourer Bug, realizing its attack was ineffective, muttered, "That idea stings."

Seeing the human before him, who seemed to be having a breakdown,

as if ancient memories were reviving in his mind—reminiscent of a terrifying upright ape with a similar smile,

the bug's ancestors had captured them, wielded a massive knife, dismembered their forebears, wrapped their flesh in cloth, threw them into boiling oil, cooked them until golden, and placed them into their gaping maw, chewing contentedly with a delighted sound.

The Devourer Bug, snapping back from the memories, shuddered violently.

Through the eyes on its flagella, it saw the large syringe glinting coldly. Combined with the terrifying memories now resurfacing, it unleashed all its latent power.

Using a once-in-a-lifetime blink, it vanished instantly from its spot and reappeared 100 meters away.

Thinking it had narrowly escaped, the Devourer Bug attempted to burrow underground, seeking to flee.

But it sensed a fist glowing with thunderous energy approaching, feeling utterly trapped.

'Ancestor Lord, I absolutely won't follow in your footsteps. Even if I turn into energy and disappear, I won't let you eat me,' it thought.

With immediate resolve, it dismantled all its energy defenses and simultaneously created an energy amplifier at the spot where the fist would land, charging toward the thunderous punch.

That powerful fist struck the Devourer Bug directly, tearing a large hole, scattering the clouds in the distant sky.

The Devourer Bug let out a reluctant roar, almost sounding like a sigh of relief.

Its body, along with the shattered remnants, began to decompose rapidly, dissolving into gray dust.

Having accomplished all this, Fan held a syringe in one hand and pinched a bottle filled with a blue substance in the other.

Looking somewhat dissatisfied, he thought logically—the punch shouldn't have caused such massive damage.

He had intended to study the Devourer Bug's genes, but discovered they were energy beings.

Their entire bodies were composed of high-purity energy.

Only a portion of their energy was preserved.

"Sigh… It's still a matter of experience. No wonder an ad popped up during the crossover mission—selling high-purity energy preservation devices. That's why."

"Good thing I felt curious and bought one, or else I'd be in deep trouble."

Preparing to claim his mission reward and return to the collapse world, he opened the mission interface, only to find his mission not yet completed.

Fan scratched his head in confusion. "Wait, why isn't my mission done yet? Could there be more than one?"

Then, the System's AI popped up some data.

[Devourer Bug: (Special Culinary Ingredient) Exists as special energy creatures in the void. Before death, they retain part of their flesh; after death, they dissolve into energy in the void.

Their origins and reasons for existing in this world are unknown.

When weak, they usually stay in groups of three to five, with a maximum of ten, rarely more.

Devourer Bugs have evolved the ability to hide within the void, making them difficult to detect amidst the vast emptiness.

Upon discovering a world's existence, they infiltrate as special energy forms, emitting energy that attracts the void.

At the moment of infiltration, they are detected by the World's Will and quickly hide upon entering the world.

Then, through the world's favored person or protagonist, they consume them.

By impersonating the protagonist, they carry out what the protagonist should do, gaining more fortune. Through this fortune, they secretly extract the world's essence—this is their instinct.

They target protagonists who can be devoured.

Little Master, this chapter continues. Please click the next page to continue reading more exciting content!

Devourer Bugs will immediately devour without hesitation.

Once they consume all protagonists or gather enough energy, they tear off their disguises.

Completing the final task, they transform the world into energy, devour half of it, and swiftly leave.

As for why they devour only half instead of everything,

it's to maintain sustainable development.

After evolving once, some Devourer Bugs separate from the group to seek new worlds to devour. Collective action no longer satisfies their energy needs.

Although they have developed powerful combat abilities, their instincts to hide remain unchanged.

Current detectors struggle to trace Devourer Bugs, only able to detect them when they emit energy fluctuations.

In the world, Devourer Bugs that hide are hard to find.

However, a drawback exists: upon assuming their disguise, they don't perfectly match the world's environment.

Periodically, every month, they emit a special energy wave. These can be detected using system-equipped detectors.

(Note: After Devourer Bugs die, they release high-purity energy beneficial to the world. With sufficient energy, it can lead to the world's ascension. This is commonly known as spiritual revival…

According to some rumors, a big shot once discovered the Devourer Bug's ancestors in the void.

They were happily devouring in one world.

So, he captured them for study.

Found out they tasted good.

Only one escaped during the cooking process, leading Devourer Bugs to develop strong hiding abilities… )

Reading this lengthy explanation in front of him,

Fan clenched his fist. If he didn't know, this was an AI left by the system, surely trying to manipulate him into activating the system and punishing him.

"But speaking of which, where has the system been all this time?"

"Why hasn't it come back yet?"

[System: Ah, who's bothering me now?]

[Four, what are you thinking? It's your move now.]