Chapter 298: Bone-crushing Black Bear

On the road to the weapons testing facility, the off-road vehicle sped.

Inside the vehicle, Lin An frowned slightly.

Having served before with the First Military Region search and rescue team, he felt as if he sensed a familiar aura.

Was it someone he knew?

Or was it an illusion?

That aura inexplicably made his heart feel restless, and killing intent rose.

Just like a memory etched into his bones.

Before he could think further, Zhang Tie, riding on his motorcycle, slapped the window with a beaming expression.

"Captain Lin! Quick, look at my talent!"

Xiong Hanzi grinned and shared his talent panel:

"Player: Zhang Tie (Level 3, Second Level)"

"B-rank talent Bear Transformation, now changed to 【Bone-crushing Black Bear】, new skill 【Earthquake】"

"Bone-crushing Black Bear: After a one-time consumption of mental power, transform into a massive demonic beast. Gain +3 Strength, +3 Constitution, +3 Defense."

"In Bone-crushing Black Bear form, attacks come with crushing and crippling effects. If the target's Strength is less than yours by 5 points, it causes a shattering effect."

"Bone-crushing Black Bear lasts 30 seconds; during this period, defense is greatly increased, and it provides the Indomitable effect."

"Indomitable: When receiving fatal damage, it can delay death. It can resist for up to 3 seconds; if health is restored within those 3 seconds, the lethal effect is removed."

"This effect can only trigger once per 24 hours."

"Second Level skill: Earthquake. Consumes stamina and a small amount of mental power; strike the ground with both hands to deal area damage, destroy terrain, causing enemies to suffer Shockwave, physical damage, and the Imbalance effect."

"Imbalance: While enemies are within the Earthquake area, they cannot maintain balance, reducing their movement speed."

Lin An lowered the window and quickly finished viewing Zhang Tie's upgraded talent.

Not bad.

This is what a normal Second Level Awakened One should have: a main talent, an attack skill, plus various effects.

The Earthquake skill makes up for Xiong Hanzi's lack of area attack, and its Imbalance effect fills his final weakness.

Although I'm not fast and can't hit you,

but I can slow you down, making you unable to bounce back.

If Zhang Tie had this skill during the earlier fight with the wailing female demon,

he wouldn't need Gao Tian's help at all; he could just unleash Earthquake and then wildly punch the monsters.

Moreover, what astonished Lin An was the Indomitable effect in the Bone-crushing Black Bear talent.

A death‑immunity effect?

With this effect, as long as the damage isn't rule‑level, Zhang Tie can definitely hold out for three seconds.

As long as he doesn't hit Gao Tian's Annihilation effect, even if the black bear encounters a Fourth Stage...

theoretically it could still withstand at least three seconds.

Combined with Flesh Regeneration and Steel Skin, Zhang Tie has truly become an unkillable little cockroach.

If he later finds a healing‑type Awakened One, it would truly be an impregnable steel wall.

Lin An's originally irritable mood improved considerably; he directly tossed the Steel Skin skill book into the chest of the hehe‑grinning Zhang Tie.

With Zhang Tie forged into the strongest meat shield, there's no doubt that confidence in the upcoming mission has greatly increased.

In the Doomsday Game, what's most feared is sudden death; often one dies without knowing how.

Let Xiong Hanzi scout ahead; any danger can be probed out.

Previously we worried Zhang Tie might die suddenly, but now there's basically no need to worry.

On the motorcycle, Zhang Tie couldn't wait to use the skill book; he was practically drooling over the Steel Skin skill.

Back then, he often muttered about wanting to stand before a Gatling with the skill active and take a shower.

A silvery‑white metallic gleam flashed and vanished.

"Steel Skin!"

Before Lin An could give any instructions, Xiong Hanzi let out a roar and directly activated the Steel Skin trial.

"Boom!!"

The wheels flew high as the suddenly heavy black bear crushed the motorcycle beneath it to pieces.

Three minutes later.

Inside the off‑road vehicle.

Lin An moved to the passenger seat, speechlessly watching the black bear drive with a face that wanted to cry but had no tears.

Xiong Hanzi was already heavy; after activating Steel Skin, his whole body turned into a gleaming metallic alloy black bear.

Weighing seven to eight tons, it directly smashed his beloved Harley motorcycle to pieces.

In the rear seat, Fan Bing stifled her laughter and dared not speak.

Mo Ling beside him took it in stride, merely giving Lin An a slightly doubtful look.

As an Undead Body, her perception of emotions is unusually sharp.

She sensed that Lin An's emotions were about to lose control for a moment.

What could cause the perpetually calm and rational Lin An to fluctuate emotionally?

After a moment's thought, she poked her head out to glance at the flesh golem sprinting beside the vehicle:

"Lin An."

"Is there something wrong with the search‑and‑rescue team from earlier?"

"Should we turn back and have a look?"

Lin An heard the voice, hesitated a moment, and saw that the little loli was somewhat worried about himself.

It's fine.

Mo Ling also felt that something was off with herself?

After thinking for a moment, Lin An thought:

Like this, you lock the Heartless Puppet onto those people's rear and follow them.

If there's any abnormality or if you discover anything, just say so.

Having the Heartless Puppet always follow us isn't very convenient; it will continuously drain your mental strength.

Simply let it freely hunt zombies, as long as it doesn't expose itself in front of humans.

Remember to set the consumption amount, don't let it exceed your control.

After thinking, Lin An decided to let the Heartless Puppet follow behind the search and rescue team.

One aspect is that letting the Heartless Puppet follow them back to the Military Region allows it to secretly eat the zombie corpses killed by the Military Region.

On the other hand, it also serves as a precaution.

The Military Region nearest to Long'an Base is the Wangjiang Military Region.

Since the capital issued the notice, I have not appeared.

Although the capital side has taken no other action, Lin An absolutely does not believe the higher-ups will let it rest.

Anyone with a bit of brains can figure that after players try the Safe Zone mission difficulty, they will naturally realize his Safe Zone might have a problem.

By then, all kinds of people will have ideas.

As a former active-duty soldier, Lin An is very familiar with the style of the higher-ups and the military.

Have the Heartless Puppet follow the search and rescue team and stay near the Military Region.

If something happens, I can also make preparations.

Even...

After hearing this, Mo Ling nodded, closed her eyes to focus for a moment, then issued a new command to the Heartless Puppet.

Outside the window, the wild grass along both sides of the road is lush.

The flesh-and-blood puppet that had broken away from the convoy let out a roar, then mechanically ran toward the rear.

The bloodthirsty red light in its eyes flashed and disappeared.

Eat...

Eat...

Light.