Chapter 71: 071 Hive Mind

Compared to the horrifying scene of the Bug Race invasion before his eyes, the bugs that had infiltrated the barracks yesterday seemed as adorable as children's toys.

The sticky, clammy sound of countless bugs running filled the air, a dense and vast number that drove one to despair.

Using an uncountable number of worker bugs and wasp bugs to first assault the human front lines was a tried and true classic tactic of the Bug Race.

For the Bug Hive, these lowest-order bugs were merely endlessly producible tools, not to mention that the battlefield was within its own territory.

The Bug Race could recycle all biomaterials. Corpses, even those blown to pieces on the battlefield, could be reclaimed and used to quickly produce the next batch of tools inheriting the flesh of their predecessors.

Their endless craving for biomaterials and terrifying efficiency in utilizing them were the primary reasons they could dominate this planet.

In the face of the Bug Hive's first wave of assault, the main battle tanks, advancing in formation, let out a fierce roar. Orange tail flames propelled high-explosive shells, raining destruction upon the bug swarm, with earth and bug limbs and fluids flung high into the air.

The heavy machine gun atop the Multi-function Infantry Vehicle began to sing, and the spent casings soon formed a carpet on the ground near the vehicle.

Even the foremost heavy-armored worker bugs couldn't withstand the surging firepower and fell down in rows.

And yet, their numbers still seemed infinite, with no end in sight.

The bugs weren't just brutes knowledgeable in melee; after the human artillery opened fire first, large bugs much bigger in size were pushed forward by the tide of bugs into the visible range.

Biological, earth-brown barrels, much like human cannon muzzles, were mounted on the backs of toad-like bugs, with faint blue light flickering within.

"Target... location..."

As Bai E was observing the distant battlefield through his scope, a deep and chaotic terrifying voice suddenly flashed through his mind. The voice was not of any known human language system, yet Bai E felt as if he could roughly understand its meaning subconsciously.

So, he subconsciously turned his head toward the direction mentioned in the voice... behind his own position.

"Whoosh!"

A pale blue crystal traced an arched trajectory through the air, rocketing over the low battlefield with a supersonic speed unseen by the naked eye.

"Bang!"

The pale blue crystal smashed heavily onto a Multi-function Infantry Vehicle rushing from the rear to the front line, resulting in an immediate blaze that reached for the sky!

The explosion's roaring wind swept over the infantry squad marching near the vehicle, the gale entwined with faint blue electrical streams formed from residual static charges, exploding violently; soldiers too close were blown away, their bodies charred by the turbulent electrical streams.

"Zzzzzz!"

A flurry of static interference immediately filled the designated battlefield radio channel.

"Boom!"

A moment later, a light hot wind accompanied by the continuous roars of explosions reached Bai E's ears.

The Cannon Bug Symbiotic Weapon—Bio-Plasma Cannon!

Information learned from the data files instantly surged in his mind.

And it was not the only one!

Bai E's eyes widened as the subtle voice rang again in his mind, and earth-yellow orbs with a hint of green, akin to mortar shells, were lobbed from behind the bug tide towards the human position.

Their speed was relatively slower, but a volley covered the sky, driving one to despair.

"Pop, pop, pop!"

Another variety of Cannon Bug Symbiotic Weapon—Spore Mines!

"Clear the minefield! Clear the minefield!" The squad commander screamed frantically, but his voice could not keep up with the spreading speed of the exploding Spore Mines.

The acid completed the first wave of attack at the instant the Spore Mines exploded, with soldiers close by corroded by the acid, emitting a "sizzling" noise, and fell to the ground in agony.

Green toxic smoke quickly spread out from the center of the Spore Mines' landing, forming an indispensible killing zone.

Human artillery shells could cause extensive damage to the bugs, while the bugs' long-range weapons could also be lethal to humans.

Even though humans were more tactically skilled and had intentionally spaced out their attack units, the relentless assault of bug shells still resulted in heavy losses.

At least in Bai E's field of vision, it certainly was so.

"Target... location..."

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"Target... location..."

The cold and calm voice echoed in his mind, one after another.

Bai E felt dizzy and overwhelmed, as if the terrible voice echoing in his brain were the scythe of the Grim Reaper, claiming a life wherever it pointed.

Strength?

Suddenly, Bai E doubted the significance of the training he had undergone these past few days. Personal strength seemed far too insignificant on this battlefield; his chances of survival seemed not much different than they had been three days ago.

It had nothing to do with strength, only luck.

"Don't zone out, keep up!"

You's cool voice sounded not far away, snapping Bai E back to attention, his body slick with cold sweat.

He, capable of self-restraint, should not have so easily fallen prey to negative emotions! What was interfering with his thinking?

That... voice that arose inexplicably in his mind?

Without a doubt, that was the so-called hive mind of the Bug Race operating in the shadows.

Just as the untapped talent of rapid recovery could produce some minor effects, the latent trait—hive mind—also brought him information others could not perceive.

He shouldn't sink into despair!

He needed to use this unique advantage to do something!

"Come and help! It's easy."

Subconsciously following You, Bai E heard Dashan's call; he was already seated in an unmanned Multi-function Infantry Vehicle, whose original owner lay beside it, lifeless after succumbing to a spore mine's attack just moments before.

In the last few seconds of life being corroded by acid and poison gas, the soldier endured excruciating pain to drive the infantry vehicle out of the toxic fog's reach.

The corrosive acid did not spare the body, still sizzling as it spread across the flesh.

Bai E glanced at it, then quickly turned his gaze away.

Dashan, used to such sacrifices, simply patted the metal of the infantry vehicle's roof and laughed heartily at Bai E, "Flamethrower, you know how to use it, right? It's easy!"

"Flames can cleanse these poison clouds; waiting for them to dissipate naturally is too slow," You explained coolly from the side. "Be careful on your own, we'll go help elsewhere."

Bai E nodded, understanding they were teaching him more about battlefield experience, "Okay!"

"Bang!"

The intense flames shot out from the muzzle, blowing away the grim green smoke.

Flame is the bane of all carbon-based lifeforms, and the essence of the poison cloud is also a living thing. S~eaʀᴄh the Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

[Using a special weapon to purify poison gas, Weaponry Expertise Experience +2.]

[Current Weaponry Expertise Experience 2/100, attain "Level 1 Weaponry Specialization" at 100 points.]

The light of the flames reflected in Bai E's eyes as the battlefield blazed before him.

Every tactical arrangement of humanity had its reason; these were lessons learned through countless battles against the Bug Race.

The Multi-function Infantry Vehicle equipped with heavy machine guns and flamethrowers was capable of handling nearby enemies and terrain limitations like poison gas; infantrymen operating close to tanks and armored vehicles were there to stop any small Bug Race creatures that managed to break through and enter blind spots in the firepower.

Marksmen weren't safe just providing long-range support from afar; they were no safer than melee soldiers. Advancing to operate the heavy machine gun from a Multi-function Infantry Vehicle might already be the safest and greatest achievement for most rookie marksmen.

The lower-tier Bug Race creatures were not like the simple trial opponents of yesterday, with weapons like Hook Scythe Guns, Barbed Flesh Whips, and bone blades... The various types of symbiotic weapons were exhibited to their fullest extent on the Bee Bugs.

His understanding of the battlefield deepened gradually in his mind, becoming ever more real.

"Target... location..."

The rough layout of the battlefield quickly formed in his mind.

Bai E was startled and executed a front flip forward while roaring angrily, "Bail out! Run!"