Chapter 717: Collecting Data (1)

Border of the Third Defense Zone.

Six "Canglei" Cyberk soldiers appeared near the ruins of a shopping mall; the leading Captain CL101 scanned the distant position ahead with its pupils.

"Target area scan: Biological traces detected with an 89.3% match to the 'Super Soldier' profile in the database."

CL101's consciousness transmitted through the network.

"Signal source direction: Northeast, 400 meters.

Estimated quantity: 3 units.

Execute 'Encounter-Collection' protocol. Disperse, surround, and approach."

"Understood!"

After receiving the order, the six Canglei Cyberk soldiers dispersed instantly, infiltrating the mall ruins from different directions.

Inside the ruins, the light was dim.

Randall was scouting this ruin with Fenongqiu and Kasimier.

"Fenongqiu, Kasimier, it is highly likely that the Cyberk Alien mentioned in the report is here. Maintain vigilance."

Randall stopped in front of a tilted, massive concrete slab, the Servo System of his MK2 Power Armor emitting a hum.

Randall tilted his head slightly, his helmet visor scanning the shadowed area ahead.

"Ha! Let them come!"

Fenongqiu's voice followed immediately; he flashed out from behind a pile of collapsed shelves, Bolter held across his chest, saying excitedly,

"This ruin will serve perfectly as their graveyard."

He patted the weapon hanging at his waist, producing a dull metallic clatter.

"Fenongqiu, you fellow, be cautious. Fuderi and the others encountered attacks from this kind of alien before, and they do have some strength."

Kasimier was half-crouched beside a fractured load-bearing pillar, his Meltagun muzzle pointed toward a potentially obscured passageway, his tone relaxed as he spoke.

"The Alien is skilled at ambushes, especially in this terrain. They will utilize every shadow and piece of cover. Randall, my thermal signal scan is currently calm, but there are many sources of interference, making it impossible to completely rule out the possibility of them lurking."

Randall nodded slightly and replied in the communication channel.

"Kasimier is right, we cannot be careless. Fenongqiu, rein in your battle intent and save it for when it counts. They might possess weapons or tactics outside of our database."

Randall raised his palm, pointing toward the direction Kasimier was guarding, then moved it toward another corner piled with rubble.

"Maintain triangular formation and advance slowly. Kasimier, you are responsible for scanning the high-risk area on the left flank. Fenongqiu, the right flank is yours; watch for those holes where they might be hiding."

"Understood, Captain!"

Fenongqiu responded, the muzzle of his Bolter moving with his line of sight.

CL101 was the first to infiltrate through a broken display window, its enhanced vision quickly adapting to the dim environment.

Its sensors locked onto the mall atrium—there, three tall figures were searching for something; one of the tall figures was standing with its back to it, seemingly checking some kind of trace on the ground.

That figure was covered in heavy blue-and-white Power Armor, with the emblem of a roaring hound on the shoulder guard, and held a high-energy weapon in its hand!

"Target confirmed: Super Soldier Unit.

Weapon: High-energy weapon (High-priority threat)!

Open fire!"

CL101's alarm synchronized instantly across the Canglei squad's local network!

Almost at the same instant the alarm was issued, that War Dog Space Marine who had his back to CL101 rolled violently to the side!

Bang! Zzzzt—!

A scorching blue-and-white Energy Beam grazed the position where he had just been standing, melting a bowl-sized deep pit into the ground, the concrete at the edges instantly vitrifying!

CL111, lying in ambush in the dilapidated corridor on the second floor, had opened fire!

The War Dog Space Marine stabilized his posture mid-roll, his Meltagun raised instantly; without needing precise aiming, relying on his battle-hardened combat intuition, he fired a shot toward the position where CL111 was hiding!

Boom!!!

A thick beam of white light roared out!

The concrete load-bearing pillar and the remaining wall on the second floor instantly melted and vaporized in the face of this destructive energy!

"Warning! Ultra-high energy level attack!"

The data stream in CL111's eyes erupted with a glaring red, and it quickly changed cover.

Rumble!!!

The melting of the load-bearing pillar triggered a small-scale collapse!

Although CL111 began to evade at the first possible moment, it was still caught by the escaping high heat.

Its left arm and half of its body armor, covered in reinforced plating, were severely deformed and melted under the high-temperature impact, internal wiring exposed and flickering with dangerous electric sparks, but the core structure had miraculously held!

"Unit CL111 core undamaged! Data recorded!"

CL101 reported coldly while issuing commands.

"Target exposed! Pin down the other two Super Soldiers! Prioritize suppressing the high-energy weapon unit!"

The other five "Canglei" Cyberk soldiers lunged out from various corners; two of the Canglei Cyberk soldiers pinned down the Metal Giant that wanted to help its teammate.

CL109 flashed out from behind a massive fallen pillar, its High-Frequency Oscillation Blade humming as it thrust directly at the wrist joint of the hand Kasimier was using to hold his gun!

Another Canglei Cyberk soldier, CL103, leaped down from the fractured floor slab above, foot blades flashing, targeting Kasimier's power pack!

Two more Canglei Cyberk soldiers attempted to flank from both sides, restricting Kasimier's room to dodge!

"For the Emperor! Kill!"

Kasimier let out a low roar, abandoning the thought of using the Meltagun again.

Kasimier erupted with terrifying strength and speed, not dodging or evading, using his shoulder guard to forcefully ram into one of the Canglei Cyberk soldiers lunging from the side, while simultaneously swinging the arm holding his Chainaxe, smashing it fiercely toward CL109 falling from above!

Clang!!!!

A deafening metallic clash! CL109's High-Frequency Oscillation Blade collided fiercely with the Chainaxe, erupting with dazzling sparks!

A tremendous force completely checked the offensive of CL109, even causing it to bounce upward from the counter-shock!

And at this moment, the Plasma Foot Blade of CL103 had already thrust forward!

Kasimier felt the searing heat brought by the Plasma Foot Blade, but he did not panic, displaying astonishing combat skills.

While knocking one aside and parrying another, his right arm holding the Chainaxe suddenly sank and twisted, using the thick armor on the outer side of his arm to shove CL109 away!

Sizzle!

The next second, the Plasma Foot Blade pierced through Kasimier's MK2 Power Armor, the high temperature turning the area around the Ceramite glowing red.

But the next second, something baffling to CL103 occurred; Kasimier's right arm swung with the momentum, and the roaring Chainaxe slashed directly toward the head of CL103!

CL103 reacted extremely quickly, immediately abandoning its attack to lean back and dodge; even so, the Chainaxe still sheared off half of its head armor!

In a mere two seconds of engagement, the lethal encirclement by the Azure Thunder Squad was forcibly neutralized by Kasimier through sheer strength and skill!

But he had also fallen into a situation of being surrounded, and the speed and coordination of the opponents far exceeded any Alien he had encountered before!

"One lung has been burned away..."

Kasimier glanced at his wound and muttered to himself.

"Combat data collection: the target individual's strength, defense, and reaction speed are all 15%-20% higher than the base model's predicted values!

Melee combat technique complexity: extremely high!

Module 'Weak Point Attack' efficiency is lower than expected!

The opponent's organs are damaged, but it has not affected their actions; suspicious behavior has been marked."

The data stream of CL101 refreshed frantically, and the High-Frequency Oscillation Blade tore through the air, thrusting toward the side of Kasimier's waist.