Chapter 363: Giant Insect

Gui Naifen led the way, stepping into the silent campus.

At night the academy was empty, moonlight tinting the field a cold silver, and only the wind's whine passing through the Teaching Building corridors.

"Node... should be on the field."

Ailisi Feier sensed the flow of magic and pointed toward the wide field.

"Got it! Watch me pull it out!"

Gui Naifen, excited, fished a Firecracker wrapped in red paper from her bosom, "First a bang, a greeting!"

She twisted her fingertip, lit the fuse, and tossed it toward the ground at the center of the field.

The Firecracker arced and landed—

"Boom!"

The crisp crack of the Firecracker exploded across the open field, sparks scattering.

Gui Naifen kept the throwing stance, her orange side ponytail swaying gently in the night wind.

She squinted, watching the shallow pit left after the smoke cleared—and the bug in its center that looked no larger than a wild dog.

"That's it?"

She tilted her head, twirling a flourish with the Flame Spear on her shoulder, "I thought it would be more impressive—"

Before the words finished.

The ground began to tremble.

It wasn't a slight shiver, but the entire field surged violently like a cloth seized by a giant hand!

The concrete floor cracked and burst!

Mud and rubble shot skyward like a fountain!

"Step back!" A Xing grabbed the still-unreacting Ailisi Feier and retreated swiftly.

Gui Naifen's pupils contracted sharply.

The ground where the "little bug" stood bulged entirely—no, it wasn't a bulge, it was the surface lifted as a massive creature burst from the earth!

Its oily shell reflected a nauseating violet‑black sheen in the moonlight, ring‑shaped segments pulling up from the ground, each as big as a truck!

The previously seen "little bug" was merely a probing tentacle of it!

When the creature fully emerged, its height already surpassed the three‑story Teaching Building beside it.

Its head lacked eyes, only a massive mouth over five meters wide lined with spiral fangs, silently hissing at Gui Naifen, warping the air!

"My dear mother..."

Gui Naifen opened her mouth, the Flame Spear in her hand nearly dropping, "What does this thing eat to grow so big?!"

"Lancer! Watch out!" Ailisi's shout rang out.

The giant insect beast's scythe‑like forelimb rose high, slicing down with a terrifying rush of wind—she had no time to hesitate!

"Ha!"

The orange‑haired girl gritted her teeth, raising the Flame Spear upward!

Simultaneously, golden‑red aura burst around her, the illusory Dragon Shadow briefly solidifying, spiraling to meet the giant insect's blade!

"Clang—!!!"

A metallic crash erupted!

The shockwave radiated from the point where spear and scythe met, stirring dust across the field and making distant trees rustle.

The ground beneath Gui Naifen fissured inch by inch; her arms trembled, her palms numb, yet by the aid of Dragon Shadow she somehow held the blow that could cleave a building!

"What... what a heavy force!"

Gui Naifen gritted her teeth and persisted, sweat beading on her forehead.

The giant insect seemed surprised that this "tiny thing" could block it; its compound eyes glowed brighter red, and another scythe‑like forelimb sliced across at an even sharper angle!

"Watch out!" Ailisi Feier exclaimed.

Gui Naifen's gaze hardened; combat instinct made her react instantly.

She didn't meet it head‑on; instead, using the rebound from her first Blocking, she twisted her waist, the Flame Spear arcing in a half‑circle, her body slipping sideways like a swift swallow!

"Huh—!"

The scythe grazed her back, shearing a few strands of orange hair, then slammed into the ground where she had stood, carving a trench several meters deep.

"Hey! Tall one, over here!"

Gui Naifen created distance, gasped, then retorted, "Being ugly isn't your fault, but coming out to scare people and damage public property is wrong! Watch me give you a hot spicy massage!"

She charged again, this time not fighting head‑on.

The Flame Spear seemed alive in her hand, targeting the gaps between the giant insect's shell plates.

Each time the spear tip struck, a burst of scorching flame erupted, making the shell sizzle and emit blue smoke.

The giant insect roared in Rage, its massive body turning clumsily; though its scythe swung with great force, Gui Naifen narrowly evaded by mere millimeters, and even when it landed, the increasingly solid Golden Red Dragon Shadow Phantom Claw deflected it.

For a moment, the field saw one person and one insect tangled in battle, sparks flying, thunderous crashes nonstop.

"Miss A Xing, Lancer she..."

Ailisi Feier watched the perilous fight, her palms sweating.

A Xing observed the battle, calmly saying, "She is adapting, finding her rhythm. But the stamina drain is huge."

She glanced at the Immortal Salted Fish that had inexplicably reappeared in her hand, "We need to break the balance."

At that moment, a mutation erupted!

The giant insect, after prolonged attacks without success, seemed utterly enraged.

Its massive belly contracted violently, spewing thick violet‑black misty slime from the shell gaps, cascading outward like a waterfall in all directions!

"Not good!"

Gui Naifen, who was closest, leapt back hurriedly, simultaneously twirling her spear into a wind‑mill, while Dragon Shadow coiled around her body forming a Barrier.

Yet a few drops of slime pierced the defense, splashing on her arm and spear shaft, instantly producing a "hiss" sound; her protective energy was rapidly consumed, and a blood‑thirsty chaos also tried to invade her mind.

"Tsk!" Gui Naifen let out a muffled hum, and her movement briefly stalled.

The giant insect seized the fleeting opening!

A terrifying tail spike hidden at the tip beneath its body, as sharp as a drill, suddenly shot out at a speed beyond sight, piercing Gui Naifen's chest!

This strike had been plotted for a long time!

"Lancer!!" Ailisi Feier shouted.

Gui Naifen's pupils dilated sharply, she twisted her body with all force, and simultaneously placed her spear horizontally before her chest for Blocking.

Bang—crack!

The tail spike's force far exceeds before!

The shaft of the Flame Spear emitted a strained wail; although it did not break, the impact was fully transmitted.

Gui Naifen was hit as if by a full‑speed train head‑on, her whole body turning into an orange streak of light, flung backward like a projectile, and with a "Boom—" she crashed into the wall of the Teaching Building behind her!

Bricks and stones splashed, smoke billowed, and a huge hole was punched in the wall of the three‑story Teaching Building facing the playground, causing the whole building to seem to sway.

"…Ge Ni Wei Er!" Ailisi Feier's face turned ashen as she rushed forward.

"Wait."

A Xing reached out to stop her, his gaze fixed on the smoke‑filled hole and… the giant insect, which was turning its massive body, its compound eyes' red light cruelly locking onto the Teaching Building, preparing to deliver the final blow.

"She hasn't lost yet."

A Xing said, his tone flat yet carrying a peculiar certainty.

As if to confirm her words—

"Cough cough… pfft!" a familiar voice came from the smoke.

Immediately after, the clatter of bricks being ripped apart rang out.

A figure, a bit swaying, but steadfast, emerged from the ruin's hole.

It was Gui Naifen.

She looked rather disheveled now: her orange side ponytail was quite tangled, her cheeks dusted with ash, and her splendid dress bore many tears and scorch marks.

But her eyes—now fully blazing gold, like molten gold, glittered brightly in the night!

The previously ethereal golden Dragon Shadow around her body now deepened in hue, its edges swirling with blood‑red flames, as if ignited by fury, becoming more solid.

Even the Flame Spear in her hand, its burning blaze now tinged with strands of golden‑red.

"Sss… it really hurts."

She flicked her numb arm, looked up at the mountain‑like giant insect, showed no fear, and a wild smile spread on her lips: "You big bug… smashing things… have to…"