I, Yuhaka, am hungry!

"What huge footprints! How big must the animal that left these footprints be?!"

Regarding Ji Lin's question, Qian Shouxia, who was standing to the side, lowered his head and analyzed the footprints, saying:

"Hmm... if my analysis is correct, the Gastrea that left this footprint was at least Stage IV or Stage III, and..."

Chizuki Natsume dug an AUG assault rifle out of the dirt with his hands and said:

"It looks like the hunters encountered this Gastrea, but something's strange..."

Ji Lin, who was standing to the side, asked Qian Shouxia Shi with a puzzled look:

"Something's strange? What's strange about it?"

Hearing Ji Lin's question, Qian Shou Xia Shi picked up her mud-covered assault rifle, inspected it, and explained to Ji Lin and Yuhaka:

"Hunters usually carry a small radiance device that emits a strange electromagnetic field. That device makes Gastrea subconsciously think that the hunter is a Gastrea, but only if the hunter does not attack or appear in the Gastrea's field of vision."

Upon hearing Chizu Natsuyo's explanation, Ji Lin nodded as if she understood something. Meanwhile, Yuhaka tilted her head and looked at Ji Lin and Chizu Natsuyo with a puzzled expression, clearly not understanding what Chizu Natsuyo had said.

Chizu Natsuyo removed the magazine from his assault rifle, and seeing that it was empty, said:

"It seems that the hunters did not expect the sudden appearance of the Gastrea, which caused them to attack it in a panic."

Then, Natsume Senju threw away his weapon and looked at the forest ravaged by Gastrea with some concern, saying:

"It looks like an accident, but I wonder what happened to my companion who was with me..."

Fortunately, Yuhaka, who was standing nearby, did not smell the blood of the Cursed Child. Upon hearing this news, Chizu Natsuyo breathed a sigh of relief. However, Yuhaka's next message made Chizu Natsuyo's heart jump again: the hunters were still running in the direction the Cursed Child had fled.

"Tsk, don't those hunting dogs know how to give up...?"

Chizu Natsuyo was furious at the hunters' behavior of chasing after their own companions even when they were running away, and Hime Rin comforted her.

"Alright, Xia Shi-chan, I believe they'll be alright. Now we need to catch up with those people as soon as possible."

Upon hearing Ji Lin's words, Senju Natsuyo nodded in understanding. After calming down, Senju Natsuyo also felt that she needed to get to her companions as quickly as possible.

Soon, under Yuhaka's pursuit, Yuhaka and her companions followed the scents and tracks left by the fleeing Cursed Children and the hunters in their chase. Along the way, they encountered some Gastrea, but none of them were a match for Yuhaka and her companions.

"Drink!"

As Ji Lin wielded his greatsword, which was wreathed in scorching flames, the creature that resembled a combination of a deer, a wild boar, and a spider was instantly sliced ​​in two. The two halves of the body did not die immediately, but instead writhed and struggled. However, once the body was ablaze with the scorching flames, the giant Gastrea quickly became motionless.

Meanwhile, Yuhaka took a deep breath and exhaled a black mist with crimson-black lightning sparks, which enveloped a group of Gastrea that resembled a pack of wolves. After the black mist disappeared, the Gastrea that resembled a pack of wolves were left with some completely corroded remnants.

"Sri Lanka No. 1..."

Chizu Natsuyo, who hadn't yet had a chance to make a move, watched as Hime Rin and Yuhaka slaughtered the Gastrea that had run over and exclaimed in amazement. Although Chizu Natsuyo knew that Hime Rin and Yuhaka were strong, she hadn't expected them to be much stronger than she had predicted, which shocked her.

With the overwhelming power of Yuhaka and Jilin, the Gastrea were quickly wiped out. The cowardly Gastrea tucked their tails between their legs and ran away. After all, the aura of a top predator emanating from Yuhaka terrified them. Yuhaka possessed genes fused with the essence of many powerful organisms, and the Gastrea virus essence made the Gastrea believe that Yuhaka was a stronger Gastrea than them.

Chapter 276 [Target, Discovery, Assault]

After eliminating some of the attacking Gastrea, Yuhaka, with an "OwO~" expression, went to a relatively intact Gastrea carcass to examine whether such a creature could be used as food.

Unfortunately, after examining it for a while, Yuhaka showed a disgusted expression and kicked the Gastrea carcass away.

As Senju Natsume watched the Gastrea's corpse arc through the air and disappear from his sight, a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He turned to Ji Lin beside him and asked:

"Sister Ji Lin, does Sister Youyou seem to have some complaints about those Gastrea corpses too?"

Upon hearing Qian Shouxia's words, Ji Lin paused for a moment, then gave an embarrassed look and said:

"Probably because I can't eat it...?"

As they spoke, the two glanced at the Gastrea carcass beside them. Through the broken wound, they could clearly see the Gastrea's sticky, soft, and disgusting purple muscle tissue, which also emitted a nauseating smell. No matter how they looked at it, it did not seem like something that could be used as food.

"But then again, these Gastrea are really tough to deal with. How come their regenerative abilities are so strong?"

Ji Lin's statement wasn't because she couldn't deal with those Gastrea. When Ji Lin used dual swords before, the damage she inflicted on those Gastrea was very limited. This was because the wounds inflicted by a single-handed sword were not enough to cause any harm to those larger Gastrea. Moreover, given the Gastrea's strong regenerative abilities, they recovered from their injuries in just a few seconds.

Faced with this situation, Ji Lin immediately transformed the Xuanyuan Sword in his hand into a Hunter's Greatsword and converted Honkai energy into flames, thus creating a superior weapon, the [Fire of Joy].

Then you'll see, those Gastrea died.

Regarding Ji Lin's doubts, Qian Shouxia explained to Ji Lin as follows:

"Yes, that's because Gastrea have very strong regenerative abilities. Generally, Gastrea's regeneration level is divided into five levels. Level 1 is the kind that can be killed with ordinary firearms. Stage I Gastrea and the Cursed Children are both in this level."

Then, Senju Natsume told Hime Rin about some of the Gastrea’s other regenerative abilities. Level 2 regeneration ability can resist some common weapons and requires decapitation and burning to kill. Some cursed children with strong regenerative factors are also at this level. Level 3 regeneration ability can regenerate or reconnect severed limbs.

Level 4 gastrulation animals can recover very quickly from injuries, even if they lose a large number of internal organs and body tissues, including damaged organs such as the brain and heart.

The most terrifying is the regenerative ability at level 5. Even if you throw a gastrea of ​​this level into extremely low temperatures and a vacuum or into magma at thousands of degrees, it can regenerate as long as it adapts to the environment. Moreover, it has the ability to regenerate at the molecular level, and there is currently no effective way to kill it.

Hearing the information that Qian Shou Xia Shi had given, Ji Lin was also very surprised. She couldn't believe that the people of this world had allowed such powerful creatures to survive.

Ji Lin then learned from Qian Shou Xia Shi that in this world there is a black metal called Hua that can restrain Gastrea. Hua can emit a special magnetic field, which can suppress the terrifying regeneration speed of Gastrea. At the same time, weapons made of Hua are also effective against the Cursed Children.

After being defeated ten years ago, humanity lost nearly 80% of its territory. Subsequently, humans built megalithic monuments around cities using chromium metal, which prevented them from being completely wiped out by Gastrea.

After listening to Senju Natsuyo's words, Ji Lin finally understood why the people of this world were able to deal with Gastrea and survive.

It was at this time that Yuhaka made a new discovery.

Three pairs of small eyes emerged from a bush. Not far from Yuhaka and the others, a group of fully armed mercenaries were on guard. Upon seeing the mercenaries, Ji Lin asked Qian Shouxia beside him:

"Hey, Natsume-chan, are those the hunters you mentioned who specifically hunt you down?"

Senju Natsuyo asked in confusion:

"Hmm, it seems so... but those people's equipment is just... a bit too good?"

Upon hearing Chizu Natsuyo's words, Ji Lin and Yuhaka showed puzzled expressions. The reason why Chizu Natsuyo looked puzzled was because the equipment of those hunters was vastly different from that of the hunters chasing her.

Chishou Natsuyo understood perfectly well that the hunters who were chasing her looked like a mercenary group of thugs, carrying different types of weapons and wearing different clothes. But the hunter group in front of them was not only fully equipped, but also looked very neat and sophisticated. They didn't look like a mercenary organization at all, but rather like a special forces unit.

"Huh?! Natsume-chan, look over there!"

Upon hearing Ji Lin's words, Senju Natsuyo looked in the direction Ji Lin pointed and saw the Cursed Children, who looked dejected, locked in a flower-patterned cage. They were undoubtedly the Cursed Children who had escaped with Senju Natsuyo, but their numbers didn't match up.

"I saw they were caught. Although I don't know why only a few people were caught, let's try to find a way to rescue them, Sister Ji Lin, Sister Youyou."

Ji Lin gave Qian Shouxia a thumbs-up and said:

"Don't worry, everything will be fine if we leave it to Master Youyou!"

"OvO???"

Meanwhile, Yuhaka, standing to the side, wore a puzzled expression, as if she didn't understand what Ji Lin was talking about.

.......................

"Roar----!"

The sight of Yhaka bursting out of the forest in his third form startled the hunters guarding the cage, but their professionalism allowed them to quickly regain their composure and launch a counterattack.

"Grenades ready!"

The hunter captain in charge instructed his men to use grenades to deal with the enemy. He knew very well that their assault rifles were very effective against a big guy like Yuhaka. Soon, the hunters pointed the grenade launcher attachments from their assault rifles at Yuhaka and pulled the triggers.

boom! boom! boom!

Several grenades left trails in the air as they flew directly towards Yhaka.

Chapter 277 [Become an Ice Sculpture!]

boom----!

With the sound of a grenade exploding, thick smoke enveloped the hunters. After hearing no further movement, the hunter squad leader addressed the others:

"Alright, looks like it's all sorted out. We..."

Before the leader of the hunting team could finish speaking, a metallic scraping sound rang out, followed by a sound like a sharp blade being drawn from its sheath.

With a tail blade like a katana slicing through the thick smoke from the grenade explosion and cleaving several hunters standing in front of Yuhaka in two, the hunters were stunned to see Yuhaka in his third form completely unharmed. They were well aware of the explosive power of the grenades they carried, which could easily kill Gastrea with regeneration abilities below level 3, but the Gastrea in front of them seemed to be unharmed.

"Retreat! Retreat! Release pheromones!"

Upon hearing the order from the leader of the hunting squad, the hunting squad took out what looked like smoke grenades from their waists, pulled the pins, and threw them toward Yuhaka. Yuhaka, seeing the grenades emitting crimson smoke, immediately realized something and used the Steel Dragon's wind ability to blow the smoke grenades back.

The hunters panicked when they saw the crimson smoke drifting towards them, and the hunter captain quickly ordered his men to stay away from the crimson smoke and retreat immediately.

Hiding in the nearby bushes, Chizuki and her companions were puzzled by the panicked state of the hunting party. Chizuki, looking at the gas masks on the hunters' faces, said with some confusion:

"Strange, why do those hunters seem so afraid of that crimson smoke?"

Soon, Chishou Natsume understood why the hunters were afraid of the crimson smoke. One of the hunters accidentally got some of the crimson smoke on him, and suddenly all sorts of Gastrea, big and small, emerged from the surrounding forest and ran towards the hunter who was covered in the crimson smoke. Yuhaka, who was standing nearby, was not afraid at all and ran towards the hunter.

"No! Don't come near me!!"

The hunter covered in crimson smoke was quickly caught up by a group of Gastrea, who then began to devour him. Yhaka smelled a sweet, cake-like aroma, but upon realizing it was coming from the hunter, he lost interest and turned his attention to the other fleeing hunters. He took a deep breath, and a breath like an ice tornado erupted from his mouth, freezing everything within its range.

Then, after looking at the frozen forest and the hunting party turned into ice sculptures in front of him, Yuhaka wagged his big tail and turned to look at the little cursed children trembling in the cage next to him.

The cursed children in their cages had never seen such a terrifying Gastrea before, and they all huddled together, trembling. But before they could even wet themselves in fear, a familiar voice suddenly appeared, startling them.

"Everyone! Are you all alright!?"

As Chizu Natsuyo ran out of the bushes, she asked the Cursed Children in the cage. The little girls in the cage looked surprised when they saw Chizu Natsuyo running over. They had been captured by the hunters after Chizu Natsuyo got lost last time, but they didn't expect to see her again.

However, faced with the menacing gaze of the Gastrea (Yohaka: OwO) standing nearby, the little Cursed Children shouted for Chizu Natsuyo to run away quickly and attract Yohaka's attention. Seeing the actions of the Cursed Children in the cage, Chizu Natsuyo was both touched and embarrassed.

Even though she came to save them, why did she have such a strange feeling about her? Nevertheless, Chizu Natsuyo told them the truth.

"Um... Sister Youyou, um... this big guy next to me, she's here to save us."

"Eh??"

Upon hearing Senju Natsuyo's words, the cursed children in the cage, who were trying to attract Yuhaka's attention, were all stunned.

..................................

"Hey!"

Ji Lin used his Xuanyuan Sword to break the iron locks on the painted cage and opened the cage door, speaking to the cursed children inside:

"Everyone, come out quickly, you're safe now."

Hearing Ji Lin's words, although they were a little confused about the current situation, they still obediently came out of the flower-patterned cage. After all, staying in the flower-patterned cage was very uncomfortable for the cursed children, so it was better to come out.

After the little girls of the Cursed Children came out, Ji Lin removed the halos handcuffs that could imprison their radiance from their hands. They then curiously looked at Yuhaka, who had transformed back into her third form and was now dressed, and approached Chizu Natsuyo, asking her all sorts of questions. Clearly, they were very curious about the two mysterious reinforcements that Chizu Natsuyo had brought.

Regarding the questions posed by his companions, Chizu Natsuyo waved her hands and said to them:

"I'll tell you about Sister Ji Lin and Sister Youyou later. By the way, how did you get captured by those hunters? What about the others?"

Upon hearing Senju Natsuyo's question, the older of the cursed children explained to him: