How could they underestimate the enemy to such a degree?

A Level 30 Tier-2 Exploding Bug, an elite monster with 4,000 health points!

"Holy shit!"

The shield-type super-warrior was terrified. He dropped his shield entirely, turned around, and bolted, even resorting to a bursting-energy dash out of sheer fright.

My body sank as I took aim at the exploding bug, instantly emptying my magazine. A full load of fifty bullets howled through the air, never missing their mark, and struck the bug squarely!

"Splat~~~"

The exact moment the magazine emptied, the exploding bug collapsed instantly, deflating like a green water balloon that had been punctured, leaking a pool of highly corrosive green slime.

"Damn..."

Milk Tea Resuscitation Immortal turned pale. "Fortunately, Ding Han's firepower is intense enough, otherwise it's hard to say what would have happened..."

Not far away, Spear Like a Dragon said, "Mark the positions of the exploding bugs in the party chat. We can't be rash anymore. Once we spot an exploding bug, we must begin concentrated fire from at least fifty meters away to stay safe."

"Right!"

Everyone nodded in agreement, deeply convinced.

...

"Squeak squeak~~"

Moving a little further ahead, the inner walls of the hive revealed blood-red embryonic sacs. As the shield-type super-warrior approached, the sacs directly ruptured, and bugs the size of foot-washing basins, each rearing a stinger at its tail, came swarming out.

Another Tier-2 Zerg variant!

"Watch out, they're Tier-2 scorpion bugs!"

Milk Tea Resuscitation Immortal raised his submachine gun, his expression grave.

The next second, the scorpion bug's stats floated into view—

[Scorpion Bug] (Elite)
Level: 30
Attack: 160-255
Defense: 120
Health: 4000
Skills: [Stinger Lv5], [Hard Shell Lv5]
Details: Scorpion bugs are a Tier-2 unit among the Zerg, evolved from mutated hive bugs. These scorpion bugs possess exceptionally thick and tough carapaces, and their tail stingers carry a potent poison. Once poisoned, it becomes extremely troublesome.

...

I quickly lowered the muzzle of my gun, unleashing a string of precise shots straight at the head of the foremost scorpion bug!

"147!"
"426!"
"420!"
"402!"
"144!"

Headshot icons continuously popped up above the scorpion bug's head, but the bullets struck its body as if hitting a layer of steel armor, echoing with clanging metallic sounds!

Still, the headshot damage was quite respectable; three consecutive bursts of precise fire directly killed the first scorpion bug!

"Damn..."

Nearby, Chaos Demon King held a green submachine gun and fired a burst. Although his accuracy was decent, headshot chances were rare. Moreover, his damage was heavily mitigated by the scorpion bug's carapace, leaving double-digit damage numbers bouncing around erratically.

"Isn't this too tough?"

Lu Xun Deleted Reviews Overnight looked bewildered as well.

Milk Tea Resuscitation Immortal remained silent, continuously casting psionic skills. With a "swish," a blood-red chain lashed out, freezing a scorpion bug in place—precisely the psionicist's Tier-2 skill, Psionic Chains. Immediately afterward, Psionic Burn ignited the interior of the scorpion bug's body, followed by a Psionic Blast that instantly dealt over 1,000 points of damage!

"The scorpion bug's armor is way too strong!"

On the other side, while maintaining precise and continuous fire, Spear Like a Dragon said in a deep voice through the party channel, "All front-liners, be careful. Pull at most three to five Tier-2 bugs at a time. Don't be greedy; we have plenty of time. Slowly pick them off and clear the way step by step!"

"Understood!"

Everyone nodded once more, feeling that their guild leader was simply brilliant and wise.

After swiftly clearing out dozens of scorpion bugs, the team slowly advanced. From the darkness ahead came a series of "hissing" sounds.

"Boss."

Chaos Demon King asked, "Should we fire a flare to take a look?"

"Fire... fire your sister!"

Spear Like a Dragon wore an expression of profound exasperation. "Isn't it good for us to advance slowly right now? If you fire a flare and all the Tier-2 bugs charge at us, can you block them?"

Chaos Demon King looked awkward.

At that moment, the two shield-type super-warriors walking in the lead let out a sudden groan. Streaks of scalding slime splattered across their shields, accompanied by a rapid patter of steel needles striking the metal. Some needles even pierced straight into the bodies of the shield-warriors, sending damage numbers flying wildly!

"424!"
"399!"
"411!"
"502!"
"473!"

The health bars of the two front-line shield-warriors plummeted like water being pumped out.

"Bad news, it's Tier-2 hydralisks!"

Spear Like a Dragon's face turned pale.

"Full firepower output!"

I frowned, instantly locking onto a target in the darkness. From roughly sixty meters away, I opened precise fire. Bullets howled through the air, striking the hydralisks squarely on the head and erupting in a cascade of damage numbers!

In the fiery trails left by the bullets, the rest of the group finally saw clearly.

Sure enough, they were Tier-2 hydralisks—a hunchbacked, heavily armored Zerg unit capable of launching acidic, corrosive slime and flying needles from a distance!

The hydralisks had high attack power and attacked from range. Being caught off guard by them would spell major trouble!

Fortunately, the hydralisks had lower health and defense. Under my attacks, two rounds of bursts—totaling ten bullets—took down one. I immediately shifted my muzzle and rapidly targeted the next!

"Damn it, damn it..."

Milk Tea Resuscitation Immortal, Chaos Demon King, and the others scrambled in a panic. By the time they took aim and began firing, I had already systematically picked off three hydralisks and started reloading my magazine.

"Damn..."

Milk Tea Resuscitation Immortal also held a submachine gun and fired wildly. As the hydralisks counterattacked, he lightly stamped his foot, shrouding his body in psionic energy to activate the Tier-1 skill, Psionic Shield.

I said nothing throughout the process. Level 30 elite monsters offered generous experience rewards, and the front-line shield-warriors were absorbing the damage—where else could one find such superior leveling conditions? Therefore, I remained silent, continuously firing and emptying multiple magazines in the span of a single minute.

...

"Swish!"

Just as one of the hydralisks was gunned down, a multicolored beam suddenly rose from its corpse, transforming into a wisp of silk ribbon that seeped into my body. Instantly, I grew so excited my eyes nearly welled with tears. Fortune favors the diligent—it actually dropped something!

[Congratulations, you have killed the monster 〖Hydralisk〗 (Elite) and additionally obtained: 〖Abilty Crystal〗 ×1!]

An Ability Crystal!

Though not a boss-tier Ability Crystal, it was still a chance to open a mystery box!

Before us, a dozen or so hydralisks were gunned down one by one, followed quickly by the remaining hive bugs, which the group swiftly dispatched.

Only then did I raise my hand to open the Ability Crystal. A pleasant chime rang in my ear, accompanied by the sound of a racing heartbeat.

[Congratulations, your 〖Ability Crystal〗 was successfully opened. You have obtained the item: 〖Hydralisk Battle Boots〗 (Quality: Blue)!]

...

"What? Blue??"

I couldn't help rubbing my eyes. A Level 30 elite monster actually dropped blue-grade gear?!

I immediately opened my extradimensional storage space and saw a pair of boots resting quietly in the corner. Pulling them out for a closer look, my heart raced even faster!

[Hydralisk Battle Boots] (Quality: Blue)
Tier: 2
Defense: 30
Agility: +19
Blessing: Windrunner, Movement Speed +25%
Blessing: Tenacity, Increases Max Health by 800 points
Required Agility: 100

...

Without a doubt, these were top-tier blue boots. The 30 defense and 19 agility were decent enough, but the 25% movement speed bonus and 800 health points were somewhat abnormal. The movement speed in particular meant that wearing these boots would drastically enhance running and chasing speeds, which, when combined with skills like Bursting-Energy Dash and Step-Slash, would render one virtually invincible!

"Holy..."

Milk Tea Resuscitation Immortal said, "Ding Han, did you drop an Ability Crystal?"

"Yeah."

I nodded and casually equipped the boots.

"Blue shoes?"

Spear Like a Dragon was startled for a moment before laughing. "Congratulations, your luck is really good!"

"Yeah, my luck is indeed rather good."

I nodded.

Chaos Demon King's expression grew somewhat complicated, tinged with a mix of envy and jealousy.

"Honestly, inviting Ding Han into the party this time was an absolute stroke of genius."

Milk Tea Resuscitation Immortal remarked, "We previously underestimated the strength of the monsters in the Wailing Hive. If Ding Han hadn't been here, our reckless pulling earlier might have wiped the party, and realistically, someone probably would have died."

"I was thinking the exact same thing."

Spear Like a Dragon took a deep breath and said, "Brothers, we previously underestimated the strength of a Level 30 hidden map, thinking we could clear it purely on our own strength. Today proves that finding a powerful external aid like Ding Han was the absolute right choice."

"Actually, I'm not that strong..."

I frowned, unaccustomed to being praised so highly. "My marksmanship is just slightly more accurate, that's all."

"Don't be so modest. I doubt your accuracy is 'just slightly' better."

Spear Like a Dragon smiled. "Judging by your headshot rate, your advanced shooting skill is likely maxed out or close to it."

I stopped talking, feeling as though I were repeatedly bouncing between trying to keep a low profile and having no choice but to reveal my strength.

However, remaining blindly low-profile might genuinely get people killed, so my modesty had to be built upon the absolute prerequisite that none of my teammates died.

...

"Continue, push forward."

Spear Like a Dragon took the lead. "Brothers, let's clear one more wave and then take a short break to replenish our magazines."

Everyone nodded in unison.

With that, the advance slowed down, and the two groups proceeded with caution.

Around two o'clock in the afternoon.

"Bip!"

A WeChat message came from Lu Xiaobei. She sent a panoramic photo of an internet cafe with the caption: "Working is so boring, I really wish someone would treat me to spicy hot pot..."

I couldn't help feeling speechless: "Is that even a hint? That's a straight-up declaration! I'm busy and don't have time to chat right now. If you're still awake when I head back later, I'll take you for hot pot."

"Deal, it's a promise!"

She sent a WeChat sticker of a little fairy dancing happily.

...

"Everyone, be careful!"

At that moment, Spear Like a Dragon narrowed his eyes at the path ahead. "Those bug embryos over there look a bit different."

"Yeah."

I peered through my scope to observe. On the wall were embryonic sacs the size of fists, much smaller than typical bugs, with their surfaces covered in blood-red patterns.

"Looks like..."

I frowned. "Tier-2 Zerg units, blood-sucking bugs, evolved from mutated hive bugs. They have low health and low defense, but their movement speed is super high. During the closed beta, they would burrow into human hosts and kill them. I wonder if it's the same here."

"Either way, watch out."

Before Spear Like a Dragon finished speaking, the shield-type super-warrior from Group 1 named "Nine Lives" actually pulled a Molotov cocktail out of his extradimensional storage space. After flicking a lighter to ignite it, he hurled it straight toward the dense cluster of blood-sucking bug embryos, casting a mocking glance in my direction. "You aren't the only one who played the closed beta. Little bugs like this burn away by the dozen with a Molotov cocktail—that's exactly how I did it during the beta!"

"???"

I was struck dumb with horror, staring at him wide-eyed, desperately wanting to ask, "Brothers, why are you taking this so lightly?"

The very next second, the Molotov cocktail burst against the wall, scattering flames everywhere. A swarm of blood-sucking bugs burst out of their sacs with shrill screeches, charging directly toward us while completely engulfed in flames!

"Damn it, they aren't afraid of fire?!"

Milk Tea Resuscitation Immortal turned pale with fright and cursed furiously at the shield-warrior who had thrown the bottle: "You idiot Lao Jiu, you're going to get us all killed!!"