Chapter 331: Practical Combat: Barbecue and Humanoid Xenomorph

Buzz…~! Buzz~…!

In the jungle, everywhere there was the sound of mosquitoes flying, and the towering trees with thick branches and leaves blocked the scorching sun.

What should have been a cool shade under the trees is now extremely stuffy, and many small animals are lying on the trees to stay off the ground.

Meanwhile, large arthropods that prefer damp, dark environments are unaffected, crawling and hunting quickly on the ground.

Roar…~! Roar~…!

Deep in the jungle, from time to time the roar of a fierce beast can be heard.

Hiss~! Hiss~!

Suddenly, a 'human shadow' flashed past in the grass near the lake.

Only when the shadow stopped, half-crouched beside a tree trunk to observe the surroundings, could its appearance be made out.

It was Sarah, wearing jungle camouflage combat gear, equipped with simple armor, weapons, and a backpack.

Her brows furrowed slightly as she carefully searched the vicinity for any threatening targets.

After confirming safety, she rose and left, approaching the lakeside while also taking down the water flask hanging from her waist, unscrewing the seal at its base, and using the filter to draw lake water for later use.

According to Earth days, today is September 10, 2112, and also the date of the formal collective trial for this year's Astate recruits.

Moreover, this date is not fixed; it depends entirely on which year Alekxia wants to conduct what kind of 'subject,' or to carry out a 'spot inspection.'

This year's subject is 'survive seven days in the prehistoric jungle.'

Of course, Alekxia also did not restrict the recruits' spontaneous hunting and cooperation; it's just that in this trial, no matter how many fierce beasts they slay, they will not earn extra points.

Thus, Sarah Kerrigan, who likewise followed a group of recruits into the trial, is now in a prehistoric jungle that lies at least 9,000 light-years from the Solar System, on the edge of the Milky Way.

And Sarah's equipment is overly 'rudimentary,' especially lacking a breathing mask, for the simple reason that her body contains nanobots that assist in dealing with any harmful microorganisms or parasites.

Although Umbrella officials are unaware of the 'monster' that Lin Shengsheng completely eradicated, Sui Bian still ordered the Peru Research Center to fully upgrade the nanobots, and also demanded increased defense, even 'offensiveness.'

Being prepared is the safest course.

After the Red and White Two Empresses obtained a full upgrade via the 01 Universe machine, the nanobots also rapidly updated and iterated.

Although it cannot achieve 100% immunity, if they encounter 'monster'-like beings again, they will absolutely not reenact the tragedy of the Ascis Mine.

Therefore, even though the prehistoric planet has never undergone planetary transformation device modification, Sarah need not worry about the threat of microorganisms and parasites.

At this moment, after tightening the seal and rehanging the water flask on her waist, Sarah's figure froze.

She raised her head, her gaze fixed on the calm, unremarkable lake surface with no ripples.

…

But Sarah slowly pulled a retracted spear from the right side of her backpack, made a throwing motion, patiently waiting, and then…

Splash~!! Water sprayed everywhere.

Hiss!! A sharp roar.

A huge python actually surged out of the lake, opening its bloodstained maw full of fangs, and lunged at Sarah, who was right nearby.

!!!

The python's speed was extreme; even though she had prepared in advance, Sarah had no ideal throwing opportunity, so she quickly did a left roll to dodge the python's bite, then used the momentum to perform two backflips, instantly putting distance between herself and the lakeside where she couldn't move freely.

Clang!

The moment she steadied herself, she extended the blades on both sides of the spear and, without hesitation, thrust it forward with force.

Rou~!!

Puchi!!

With a sound of breaking air, the spear successfully pierced the python's right eye, but…

Hiss!!

Thud! Thud!

But this also caused the python that had just rushed to the shore to go berserk, thrashing its massive body against the ground, trying to destroy everything nearby.

Taking advantage of the opening while she drew the Starlight Sword from the sheath on the left side of her backpack, Sarah finally got a full view of it.

Its dark green body was at least thirty meters long, and its width required four adults to encircle; even fully armed troops equipped with power armor, when fighting this python at close range, a slight mistake would see them swallowed whole.

Hahaha, today's dinner is secured!! Don't run!

But Sarah, who came from a wild wolf background, let out an excited shout, sprinted quickly, dodged the chaotic swings and strikes, and then leapt straight from the python's right-eye blind spot!

Click!!

The Starlight Sword successfully embedded into the python's skull, while Sarah also gripped the hilt with her left hand, using it as a leverage point to hang her whole body on the python, then re-gripped the first spear with her right hand and shoved forward with force.

Pfft!!

Blood gushed out uncontrollably.

Hiss!!

The agony and threat of death made the python's struggles even more frenzied.

However, Sarah would not easily let go; she kept using the spear that had pierced the python's brain tissue, continually adjusting the angle to enlarge the wound.

Until the python lifted its head to try to roar, but could no longer move, and with a 'Plop!!' it collapsed to the ground; only then did Sarah pull out the Starlight Sword and the retractable spear and jump back to the ground.

However, having returned to the ground, she had no intention of stopping her attack, using the notch in her right eye to continue destroying the python's brain.

Finishing blow.

The first lesson Sarah learned from the Grays and the wild wolves was the importance of delivering a finishing blow.

After she confirmed the python would not suddenly 'play dead' to ambush her, Sarah finally ceased the finishing blow.

Next, she put away her weapons, humming a song as she skillfully skinned and sliced the meat with a dagger, placed the large piece of snake skin with hard scales into her backpack, took enough snake meat, and left the lakeside feeling satisfied.

After all, living alongside the wild wolves made skinning and deboning basic skills; although the python looked formidable, it actually posed no threat to Sarah whatsoever.

If it weren't for the trial's strict prohibition on using spiritual energy, this python would have died even faster.

After Sarah walked away.

At an unknown time, NuoWa, wearing black HES and with a golden ponytail, stands on the opposite shore of the lake with arms crossed before her chest, gazing at the giant python's corpse with a faint smile.

It seems she witnessed the entire process of Sarah's showdown with the giant python.

A moment of silence.

NuoWa then looked in the direction where Sarah had disappeared, opened her earpiece communicator, and spoke to someone:

"Commander, that child's courage, speed, and reaction exceeded my expectations; in her first life-and-death battle, she seemed to have no psychological pressure either. It appears the wolves have trained that child well, though she lacks some combat experience."

Spiritual Energy?

"Hmm… the child's self-control is also not bad; throughout she released no trace of Spiritual Energy fluctuation. Hmm… I understand, I will continue observing, please rest assured, yes, Commander."

The conversation ended.

As her words faded, NuoWa's figure had already vanished from the lakeside, as if she had never been here.

———————

…

Night.

Aoo!!

Roar!!

The howls in the jungle became clearer and more frequent than in daytime, mixed with battle cries like "Die!" and "Ah!!".

It seems some Astate recruits are treating this "survival trial" as a "hunting operation," continuing to fight tirelessly even as night falls.

At this moment, in a clearing in the jungle, there is a "crackle–pop!" sound of flames flickering.

Only see a bonfire rising at the front of a boulder protruding from the ground, while Sarah takes off her backpack and places it beside her, sits cross-legged without regard for appearance, then skewers snake meat with a whittled branch from her dagger for a jungle barbecue.

Sizzle…! Hiss!!

As the snake meat slowly roasts, dripping fat onto the bonfire intensifies the flames.

After finishing the mediocre barbecue, Sarah gulps from her water canteen, wipes her mouth with the back of her left hand, leans against the boulder and gazes at the alien night sky, inevitably remarking:

"If only there were wine; this stuff never satisfies, sigh."

Sarah turns her head to look at her backpack and mutters to herself: "I wonder if the Regiment Commander and the others would like snake skin?"

She relaxed for a moment.

Sarah prepares to rise and extinguish the bonfire, but sensing something, she quickly lifts her head and gazes at the starry sky once again.

But this time it is not for leisurely appreciation; it is vigilant observation, attempting to view conditions outside the atmosphere with the naked eye.

Suddenly, hundreds of "parallel meteors" appear in the night sky as a strange sight.

?!

What is happening?!

Although the distance is extreme, causing Spiritual Perception to be somewhat blurred, Sarah knows that those "parallel meteors" are the effect produced by "vessels" using something akin to a warp drive when they drop out of faster-than-light travel.

Which race's reconnaissance fleet is it?

Because Spiritual Perception also tells her that this unknown fleet carries emotions of "colonization," "war preparation," and even "fear."

Colonization?

War preparation?

Soon, countless meteors flashing by appear in great numbers.

At a glance, one knows these are various carrier‑based aircraft and transport planes leaving the hangars to enter the atmosphere.

"Damn alien trash!" Sarah, having figured out the situation, blurts out profanity.

Then she stomps out the fire, shouldering her backpack, and takes out her personal computer to check.

As the screen lights up, the primary notice reads: "Trial cancelled; all recruits please return to base on your own and await further instructions."

At the same time, the reduced‑scale map on the screen begins to provide more detailed and effective information, such as which recruits and friendly units are nearby, or which areas harbor dangerous creatures, etc.

After reading the notice and the map,

Sarah puts away her personal computer, no longer considering the Spiritual Energy limitation, and immediately runs toward the base where the Space Gate is located.

During this time, she encountered…

It would be better to say she sensed many Astate recruits sprinting past nearby; because the dense forest blocked her view, she didn't even see their backs.

Not long after, Sarah faintly hears explosion sounds like muffled thunder, and the night sky also lights up with the fire of many explosions.

It appears the base's aviation squadron has already engaged the unknown forces, and the fighting is fierce.

At this moment.

A transport vessel with sharp angular contours, not matching any human model, its rear engines trailing thick smoke, loses balance and tumbles, sweeping past overhead Sarah.

Boom!! Rumble——!

Finally, the transport vessel crashes head‑on, destroying all trees in its path and crushing any animal unable to dodge.

Sensing strong emotions ahead‑to‑the‑side, Sarah immediately changes course, proceeding along the "track" left by the impacting transport vessel.

The closer she gets to the crash site, the more she senses the emotions of the unknown alien beings, and also detects that three Astate recruits have already arrived there first.

"Pt…pt…" laser‑like gunfire erupts.

Noticing the recruits beginning to clash with the aliens, Sarah quickens her pace, finally arriving near the crash site.

Gazing around,

Large numbers of humanoid aliens clad in bright‑yellow powered armor and wielding weapons surge out of the heavily damaged transport vessel.

Meanwhile, the three recruits can only oppose them with whatever melee weapons they have; one of them raises a spear, draws it back, then thrusts it forward with all his strength.

Whoosh!!

Pfft!! Clang!!

The spear lets out a sonic‑boom‑like crack as it slices through the air, leaving an afterimage in the firelight; it instantly shatters one alien's powered armor and then pins that alien, spear and all, to the transport vessel's outer hull.

The other two new soldiers deployed double-bladed wrist blades, dodging the scattering blue light's trajectories, and after a few sprints rushed into the frontmost alien cluster to engage in close combat.

Boom!

Sizzle!

In the blink of an eye, the two new soldiers, using extremely brutal means such as splitting, bisecting, and tearing apart, yet also extremely efficiently, dealt with dozens of aliens.

Light purple blood spattered.

Ah!!

The aliens obviously had never encountered an enemy like the Astate, and they shouted, wanting to flee.

But turning to flee would expose their defenseless backs to the Astate; this move is quite foolish and would only speed up their death.

It's worth mentioning that their melee combat, especially when equipped with powered armor featuring strength amplification, is still unable to withstand a single blow; conversely, their ranged accuracy is quite good, at least able to hit the three soldiers launching the attack.

The blue light beams fired from their weapons can easily melt through simple armor and defenseless combat uniforms, and severely burn the soldiers' skin.

After all, the Astate lacking Thor's Hammer and Tao steel armor would have greatly reduced defense; moreover, these three lack experience, knowing only to charge with brute force, they are merely seventeen- or eighteen‑year‑old "kids".

So…

Whoosh—!

A flash of silver light, and all the humanoid aliens present ceased their attacks, standing stunned in place, and then…

Pong~! Pong~!

All the aliens, like water‑filled balloons, simultaneously burst outward and shattered, blood spraying, and even extinguished the nearby burning flames.

??

The three soldiers all stared in shock.

At this moment, Sarah, who had released a "silver light" impact from her Starlight Sword, ran up to the three and asked, "Are you all right?"

"Thank you." One of the soldiers recognized Sarah and immediately expressed gratitude.

"I didn't expect your small frame to have such a powerful Spiritual Energy response; I've gained a new respect for you, and thanks for your help, hahaha!" Another soldier laughed heartily.

"..."

The last soldier said nothing, instead walking straight to a pile of corpses, half‑crouching on the ground, then extending both hands to forcefully pry open the powered armor helmet, exposing the dark bluish‑purple skin, the alien form lacking a nasal bridge, to everyone present.

Thanks to the ally leader's reward from book friend 160612173109711, and thanks to all book friends for their reward support, subscriptions, recommendation tickets, and monthly ticket support!

This is the first time the author has received an ally leader's reward; the author was wondering whether the first ally leader's reward could only be relied upon oneself? Back then it was so desperate to say, hahaha.

What?

Extra chapter…

Huh? I don't recognize these two characters…

Hahaha, finally thank you all for your support again!

(End of chapter)