Starting as a Mechanical Hunter

In a wild campsite, the rescued Genetic Girl was treating Tamil’s wounds.

During the recent chase, Tamil got hit by three arrows, one struck the mechanical shell and was blocked, while two penetrated, one in his abdomen and the other in his shoulder. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"It’s fine, pull them out."

Tamil said with an indifferent expression.

The Genetic Girl bit her lip, picked up her small knife, and started to cut into the wound. Due to her inexperience, blood occasionally spurted out, yet Tamil made no sound whatsoever.

What a resilient man!

Before long, the two barbed crossbow arrows were removed. She rinsed the cut cloth with hot water and then bandaged him.

Luckily, there were some scattered tools in the campsite, otherwise it would have been quite troublesome.

Apu returned with a grave expression.

"There’s a situation."

"Our people were blocked at the perimeter. In addition to dispatching this convoy, the other side also sent out three convoys led by ’Butcher’, blocking our reinforcements outside Flame Pass."

Seeing Tamil frown, Apu smiled and said:

"Brother Blood Blade, don’t get angry just yet, there’s actually some good news."

"Oh?"

"They seemed to have lost something important, which fell into our hands, otherwise, they wouldn’t be so furious."

Tamil seemed to think of something and immediately took out what the mole had given him and opened it.

A map?

Apu leaned over, took a look around, and lightly exclaimed, "This is a map of Flame Pass, no, with so many Advanced Architecture, there’s no way those natives could have built this."

Tamil thought of something else: "This facility, it looks very much like Professor Han’s Bionics Research Institute."

"Are you suggesting that there is a Pre-War Research Institute within the enemy’s territory!?"

"Very likely!"

Only now did Tamil understand why the mole said the Boss would be interested.

"What’s the word from the base now?"

"The base suggests we find a place to hide first. Once they take down Flame Pass, we’ll be safe."

The Genetic Girl shivered upon hearing this.

They are actually going to take action against the supreme god!

Apu glanced around, full of yellow sand everywhere, "Where can we hide? We didn’t bring any supplies."

The Genetic Girl gathered her courage and said, "I, I know a place. I can take you there!"

Apu and Tamil looked at each other simultaneously, causing the courage the Genetic Girl had finally mustered to dissipate slightly, and she instinctively leaned towards Tamil.

Apu quipped, "Hey, little girl, no matter how you slice it, I look more friendly than the guy next to you, yet you’re leaning towards him and not me?"

Tamil coldly replied, "Maybe she just thinks you’re unreliable."

Apu rolled his eyes, "Alright, you win. Little girl, where do you plan to take us?"

The place the Genetic Girl mentioned was called the ’Morgue’, also an underground trade market in the Land of Flames, about three hours’ journey from there.

If on horseback, it would be less than half an hour.

After half an hour, the three finally arrived at the ’Morgue’, and by then it was late at night. From the outskirts looking up, it was lit brightly inside.

The power horse was too conspicuous, Apu whispered a few words into its ear, and the modified horse disappeared into the darkness.

The three donned cloaks and entered the ’Morgue’.

Getting closer, a rain shelter was set up there, and after blending in, the two realized the place was filled with a mix of characters. Each tent contained various business people.

Quickly, they understood why it was called the ’Morgue’, as a large part of the goods was various corpses.

The Genetic Girl, well-acquainted, led the two to a nearby garbage heap.

There were several children smaller than the girl, each filthy, but they appeared to recognize the girl and approached her eagerly, eyes bright.

According to the girl, they survived by scavenging garbage until the bigwigs completely abandoned this place, turning it into a campsite, and that’s when they would leave.

Tamil, with his tall stature and undeniable ferocity in his eyes, had to be hidden while Apu went to gather information.

The Genetic Girl somehow procured half-eaten Nutrition Paste and gestured towards Tamil.

Tamil glanced at her and then closed his eyes again.

The Genetic Girl immediately displayed a disappointed expression.

Late at night, a commotion arose, and Tamil opened a slit of his eyes, the Spring Blade in his hand flicked out halfway.

"It’s me!"

Apu quietly approached, holding some stolen Nutrition Paste, and only then did Tamil ravenously stuff it into his mouth.

"I discovered there are many warlords’ people here doing business, and their trading partners seem to be corporations."

Tamil paused his action, "Are you sure?"

"I’m sure, don’t forget, last time Mr. Du negotiated with those corporate representatives, I was the bodyguard, and the scent on those people, I’ll never forget."

"So you’re saying, behind these warlords, it’s actually the corporations standing?"

"I guess so, otherwise where would they get so many military weapons."

"This is a bit troublesome," Tamil furrowed his brow.

The power of the corporation is acknowledged by everyone.

Do they know about that ’Pre-War Research Institute’?

If they do, will they cause trouble?

Although Tamil didn’t doubt they could win, what they needed was an intact Flame Pass, not a battered place.

"By the way, I also found a place to gather information, we’ll check it out tomorrow," Apu winked: "You should find it interesting."

"It’s a Black Market Transformation Point."

...

On the outskirts of the Land of Flames, Matsushima Keiko sat on the ground, her face covered in ash, while the former deputy leader of the Fire Grass Squad, Old Gua, was bandaging her wounds.

It was a sudden battle.

The enemy was a Bald Burners Squad led by a Butcher, ten in total, all elites.

With equal numbers, the Mechanical Hunter scored a three to five record. On their side, they lost two new recruits and a Mechanical Bio-Beast, while the enemy lost five Bald Burners.

Judging purely by the loss ratio, their side won.

But this was contingent on Matsushima Keiko going all out, with the ’Combat Chip’ driving at twelve levels, stubbornly cutting down three Bald Burners amidst explosions, forcing the enemy to retreat.

These Bald Burners are considered an advanced version of Flame Boy, covered in thick black burn marks. Whether you cut them or they cut you, it results in a massive explosion.

Matsushima Keiko may have gone all out, but the cost was a Knife Holder being blown out, unable to connect with the Intelligent Blade before repairs.

The biggest difference between a ’Knife Holder’ and a mechanical hand is that it serves as an intermediary connecting the Intelligent Blade and the Combat Chip.

With it, the Combat Chip can perform tactical simulations.

With one Knife Holder broken, Matsushima Keiko’s combat power decreased by at least thirty percent.

Old Gua stood up, looking at a large bloody hole on the chest of a C-level Unicorn Rhino, his gaze turning more solemn.

"We really underestimated the enemy."

In fact, Matsushima Keiko’s battlefield judgment was not wrong. If she hadn’t gone berserk to repel that Butcher, their side would have suffered more casualties.

The enemy Butcher’s combat power was comparable to first-class Mechanical Hunters.

"Ah ah ah, if Fat Xiang were here, we wouldn’t have fought so miserably."

Matsushima Keiko rolled on the ground in anger.

Old Gua looked at her helplessly, you’re the squad leader now.

Personnel expansion inevitably leads to a temporary decrease in strength. In fact, except for those few in hiding, each of the first-rate hunters who initially followed Gao Gong are now squad leaders leading 10 to 20 Mechanical Hunters.

In fact, if it weren’t for considering others, Old Gua could have been a squad leader himself, instead of running to be a deputy leader again.

It turns out his choice was wise.

Although former team leader Daisila liked to charge, she usually chose the right time and place, and her leading charge boosted morale.

But Keiko is different. When she fights, she doesn’t consider the circumstances or location, and explodes like a bomb at the slightest provocation.

If Old Gua didn’t take charge of command, these newcomers would all be dead, one after another.

"Fat Xiang is a captain now, too, hunting Marine Species along the coast. Looking at you now, how will you face him again?"

Old Gua shook his head helplessly, dragging Keiko back by the collar.

"Let’s go back."

"Where to?"

"They see us as scattered sand, now they’re assigning three temporary squad leaders to handle unified task allocation."

"Squad leaders, who are they? Is Daisila coming?" Matsushima Keiko perked up.

"Not Daisila, but someone familiar."

At this moment, in a transport plane, three figures were discussing the next military actions.

Among these three temporary squad leaders, a familiar yet unfamiliar face was in charge; this person was none other than Huang Wen.

The restored flesh Huang Wen seemed to be his old mechanist self, expressionless and reticent.

Unlike before, his flesh had undergone extensive modifications. Although human-like in appearance, the other two could sense the strong electrical signals emanating from him.

Moreover, he carried an electromagnetic rifle named Storm on his back, a reward from the boss.

The other two were the Crawler and Sunx Tu, both with old credentials.

After painful deliberation, the Crawler decided to follow the Biological Hunter path.

Now he radiated danger all over, with nodular tissue protruding intermittently from his body.

Sunx Tu took the ’Heavy Armored Mechanic Hunter’ route, standing three meters tall, resembling a smaller Super Mechanical Ape.

Three more people broke the Hunter limit.

There was another person on the transport plane, more precisely, a figurine.

At this moment, Valkyrie was sound asleep on a small bed.