Chapter 896: Shadow Star (2)

A Shu foreman stopped the escapees, and after a brief exchange, more guards rushed to the mine entrance, beginning to set up barriers and weapons.

Corax observed this scene and spoke over the communication channel.

"There is something underground that frightens them. Wasi, take two men and infiltrate from the flank to gather more intelligence. The rest of you hold your positions and stand by."

"Yes, Father!"

Wasi, along with two Anya Shouwei, slid down the high ground, blending into the darkness of the mechanical equipment like shadows.

Meanwhile, the Second Squad led by Wudisi landed on the edge of the Youying Linhai.

After stepping out of the infiltration pod, they noticed tiny bioluminescent particles floating in the surrounding environment; these particles gathered around the Anya Shouwei's Power Armor, forming faint halos.

Wudisi spoke up.

"These particles will expose our position. Switch to low-power mode and rely on physical camouflage."

"Understood!"

The squad began to advance, when suddenly, the helmet displays of all the Anya Shouwei flashed with biological energy alerts simultaneously.

"Surrounded on all sides, numbers are high, but no hostility is displayed."

From the shadows of the trees, creatures with glowing fungi growing on their backs slowly walked out.

They held stone-bladed Spear and crystal bows in their hands, but did not adopt an attacking posture.

An elderly Symbiote stepped forward, the fungi on its back emitting a soft glow.

Wudisi's built-in helmet translator began to work, converting the information emitted by the fungi into a rough language.

"Strangers, why do you bring the shadow of darkness?"

Considering that he needed intelligence on this planet, Wudisi answered.

"We do not intend to bring darkness. We are looking for our lost kin."

The light on the old Symbiote's back flickered unsteadily.

"The Maw of Darkness is hungry; it Devour light, it Devour life. There is light beneath your metal skin, be careful not to be devoured."

"What is the Maw of Darkness?"

Wudisi asked.

All the Symbiotes trembled simultaneously, and the old Priest's light became rapid.

"The hunger deep underground; the Shu dug too deep and awakened it. Now it grows, it hungers. We must migrate north, far from the shadows."

Suddenly, a loud noise came from afar, and even the ground vibrated slightly.

The Symbiotes were panic-stricken, their lights flashing chaotically.

The old Priest turned toward the direction of the sound, emitting flickering light.

"It is too late, the Maw of Darkness has awakened."

Wudisi immediately sent a communication to Corax.

"Father, I have a situation here that you need to know about."

"Understood, I will bring them to meet you there."

After hanging up the communication, Wudisi spoke to the Alien Priest before him.

"You must come with us; our father has some things he needs to ask you."

"But, we are preparing to head north..."

Before the Symbiote Priest could finish, Wudisi directly interrupted the Priest's subsequent words.

"Alien, you are able to stand here alive because you have sufficient value, not because you have the right to converse with me as an equal.

If you refuse, I don't mind if the number of your tribe decreases; after all, it does not affect the final result of the Task.

You should thank the Emperor; if it were not for the teachings of the Emperor, I have plenty of ways to make you cooperate."

As he spoke, Wudisi switched the Bolter in his hand to full-auto mode, and the atmosphere between the two sides became somewhat tense.

The Symbiote Priest replied without thinking.

"Don't be agitated, I will go with you."

He could clearly feel that Wudisi was not lying, and had even expressed himself quite euphemistically.

The Symbiote Priest calmed his tribesmen and set off with only a few Symbiote guards.

The group soon departed.

Wudisi's squad spread out in a defensive formation, shielding the old Symbiote Priest and its few tribal guards in the center.

The fungal clusters on the backs of these furry bipedal creatures constantly changed light, seemingly communicating silently, conveying unease and urgency.

The light on the old Priest was particularly bright.

"Sergeant Wudisi, the shadow of darkness... the writhing is accelerating. We must... go north. To meet with... the Giant Shadow."

"Giant Shadow?"

Wudisi's finger rested on the trigger of the Bolter.

"The shadow of metal, descending from the sky. Your... leader. The shadow he carries... is ancient. He can help with... the crisis."

The old Priest's light flickered unsteadily, leaving Wudisi completely bewildered.

Just then, a familiar voice came through Wudisi's Communication Device.

"Wudisi, this is Corax."

"Father, this is Wudisi, please instruct."

Wudisi responded immediately, while making gestures to order the squad to stop advancing and increase vigilance.

The Anya Shouwei occupied favorable positions, their weapons pointed at the surrounding dark woodland.

"We have encountered a highly adaptive biological threat underground; the situation is more complex than expected. The Alien's underground excavation has awakened some kind of subterranean entity."

The brow beneath Wudisi's helmet furrowed.

Subterranean entities? Highly adaptive? That explains why the Symbiote migrated.

Corax continued.

"Your Task has changed: escort the Symbiote representative and proceed to my location at maximum speed. We need their knowledge and abilities to deal with that creature."

"Understood, Father. We will proceed at full speed."

A coordinate point had already updated on Wudisi's tactical display, located several kilometers from their current position, requiring them to cut diagonally across a region of complex hilly terrain.

"Stay vigilant, Wudisi. Shadow Star is full of unknowns. Corax out."

The communication cut off.

Wudisi turned to the old Priest and spoke.

"There is no time; we need to reach the location of the Great Shadow at maximum speed."

The light on the old Priest's back flickered once.

"The Great Shadow calls... we must respond. But the path... passes through the patrol territory of the Shadowborn. They... do not trust the light. Especially... do not trust strangers carrying new light."

"Shadowborn?"

Wudisi retrieved the preliminary scan data transmitted earlier.

"A native local race, with keen senses and skilled in concealment. Records show they have a tense relationship with the Shu. Will they attack proactively?"

"If they feel threatened... they will. They guard the shadows... wary of any light that might... disturb the balance. Especially... at a time like this."

"Makusi, Hasituoer, forward reconnaissance. Saiweilu, rear guard. Everyone else, tight formation. We move in a straight line, maintaining maximum vigilance. Do not engage unless necessary, but if hostile actions are encountered, neutralize them quickly, but do not pursue. Our goal is to reach the assembly point, not to wipe out local lifeforms."

"Victory or death!"

The Anya Shouwei responded in low voices.