Ling Cage: Twelve Talismans? I have everything I need.

Chapter 27 Big Trouble

The roar of the engine sounded particularly lonely on the empty wasteland.

Three modified armored personnel carriers kicked up clouds of yellow dust as they drove toward the designated supply depot for this mission.

Outside the car window, the dilapidated city skyline looked particularly oppressive against the gray sky.

Hong Kou sat in the passenger seat of the lead car, calmly surveying the scenery along the way.

Several days have passed since the last perilous mission. Benny's life has been saved, and the Dawn team has also contributed their contribution points.

Po Xiao sat in the driver's seat, his expression focused.

The atmosphere in the back of the train was somewhat somber. Xuefeng, Haji, and Kunjie huddled together, and no one spoke as the train lurched along.

Haji broke the silence, adjusting his posture and nudging Xuefeng, who was resting with his eyes closed, "Hey, Xuefeng, what's the background of that new guy?"

Xuefeng opened his eyes and muttered irritably, "Who's the new guy?"

"Who else could it be?" Xuefeng lowered his voice and gestured towards the direction behind him, indicating that he was sitting in the car behind.

"That guy named Rock, he was sent over by the city garrison. He has a mean and sarcastic look, and he doesn't look like a good person."

Kun Jie joined in, lowering his voice even further: "I also feel something's off. They say they're here for joint training? Joint training my ass!"

"When did those old men from the city garrison ever look up to us hunters who roll around in the mud? They even specially sent someone over to learn from us?" His words were clearly sarcastic.

Xuefeng frowned: "Hiss, you mean to say?"

"The captain even pointed a gun at Victor's head, violating the Three Laws."

"Shh! Keep your voice down!" Xuefeng quickly gestured.

"Just keep that in mind. The new guy is training with Instructor Elon, and the captain definitely knows that too."

He paused, glancing at Red Collar in the passenger seat. Although they were trying to speak in hushed tones, they knew that at this distance, Red Collar and Dawn could hear them.

"Damn it, what kind of mess is this!" Haji angrily punched the side of the carriage wall.

"The captain risked his life for the lighthouse, didn't rest even when injured, and brought back so many supplies... and this is what he got in return?"

"The lighthouse's rule is to look only at 'value'." Kun Jie's voice carried a hint of weariness and helplessness.

“Benny is not only seriously injured and has lost his leg, but his value is greatly reduced in the eyes of the Lighthouse. The captain challenged the rules, and in the eyes of some people, his value is also... reduced.”

He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood what he meant; those who didn't understand wouldn't understand even if he explained.

A moment of silence fell over the carriage.

A calm voice broke the silence through the communicator: "We're almost there. Everyone check your equipment and stay alert. Repeat, stay alert."

"Received!" Xuefeng and the others immediately composed themselves and began checking their guns and equipment.

Hong Kou took a deep breath, suppressing her chaotic thoughts. She picked up the communicator, her voice regaining its usual calm: "Attention all vehicles, target area approaching. Gravity body drivers, prepare to be on alert."

"Gravity Body 1 received!"

"Gravity Body 2 received!"

"Hunter Team received!"

Rock's voice also appeared on the communication channel: "City Defense Coordinator Rock received. He will accompany the Hunter Squad to observe and learn."

His voice sounded particularly out of place on the channel.

Haji couldn't help but mutter a curse into the communicator: "Like your mother."

Xuefeng quickly turned off Haji's microphone and glared at him.

The vehicle slowly drove into the area. The buildings here were also dilapidated, but larger than the previous warehouse area.

"Everyone get off the bus."

Hong Kou's voice rang out again, decisive and clear. She jumped out of the car first and went to the back to enter her own gravity body.

Dawn and the other hunters formed a formation and moved forward slowly.

Rock followed closely behind the Dawn team, his movements slightly stiff, his eyes constantly scanning his surroundings, and his hand tightly gripping a standard-issue rifle.

Xuefeng walked behind, unable to resist opening the squad's encrypted internal channel again: "Captain, that guy has been following Dawn the whole time. The city defense forces sent him over at this time, they're definitely trying to marginalize you and Dawn." Hongkou was silent for a few seconds: "Just do your job, Xuefeng. Focus on the mission."

Her voice was emotionless, but Xuefeng understood that Hongkou must know all this, so he didn't say anything more.

The search proceeded unusually smoothly, so smoothly that it was somewhat unsettling.

They found a partially collapsed warehouse containing some reasonably sealed chemical raw material drums. Although the quantity was small, the types seemed useful.

“That’s strange,” Haji muttered into the communicator. “This place is so big, how come we haven’t seen a single snake dog? It’s eerily quiet.”

Kun Jie also looked around warily: "Something's definitely not right. Everyone be careful."

Just then, the Dustman responsible for perimeter security suddenly let out a short scream, followed by a piercing electrical noise from the communicator!

"what--!"

Dozens of Devouring Beasts swarmed in, and the Dust People and Wilderness Hunters outside hurriedly ran towards the main force.

"Suppressive firepower!!!" Hong Kou's voice boomed.

Black Gravity activated its full power, instantly appearing behind the fleeing crowd and brandishing its chainsaw!

"Xuefeng! Suppress them with firepower! Haji, Kunjie! You take men to protect the civilians and supplies!" Hong Kou issued a series of orders amidst the violent tremors, his voice mostly drowned out by the explosions.

Xuefeng roared as he brandished his machine gun, unleashing a hail of bullets at the Devouring Beasts. Haji and Kunjie returned fire while loudly directing the panicked Dust People to take cover behind vehicles and cover.

Rock turned pale and ran frantically to the back of the line.

The rifle in his hand also began to suppress the fire in the direction of the Devouring Beast. Although the accuracy was not good, at least he did not stand there stupidly.

However, the number of Devouring Beasts was simply too great, and they were no match for them.

In the chaos, a snake-dog broke through the enemy fire and charged towards Dawn, who was protecting the front of the group.

"Dawn! Right!" Red Knuckles' voice boomed in the channel, his tone somewhat flustered.

She kept her eyes glued to the entire battlefield, especially to Dawn at the very front of the ranks.

Seeing that Po Xiao had been pounced on by the Devouring Beast, Hong Kou's eyes were bloodshot with rage!

A roar filled with unprecedented terror and anger completely shattered her usual composure and calmness in public.

Ignoring the Devouring Beast beside her, Hong Kou poured all her power into the thrusters and charged headlong toward the direction where Dawn had fallen.

"breaking Dawn!"

Xuefeng roared, and he also saw Dawn being pounced on by the Devouring Beast.

But they didn't dare to shoot at the Devouring Beast; hitting it would be fine, but missing would be disastrous.

They had no choice but to shoot at the Devouring Beast that was still trying to pounce on Dawn.

"Go away!"

Hong Kou manipulated the Gravity Body and swung the Devouring Beast away with a single punch.

"Dawn! How are you?!" Hong Kou was very worried.

Dawn pushed himself up and said, "I'm fine, but my left hand is probably dislocated."

"It's always you, the captain, who has to save us," Dawn teased with a smile.

Seeing that there were no major problems, Hong Kou breathed a sigh of relief: "Now you are the captain."

"Then I've really failed in my duty as captain."

"Captain! Dawn!" Xuefeng roared at the two of them, "Stop being so lovey-dovey! We've got a big problem coming from behind!"

A gigantic, mutated Devourer has appeared at the rear of the Devourer horde.

This Devouring Beast has a huge lower jaw and a face that resembles a human's.

"Oh my goodness"

Haji was completely stunned; he couldn't think of any way to fight against such a behemoth.

(End of this chapter)