Chương 158: Chapter 159: Unyielding Skull Crusher and the Unexpected Gain from Destroying the Hive
"Tiger Tooth Chainsaw Sword upgrade complete!"
"Absorbed Rock Solid attribute, new attribute: Unyielding Skull Crusher"
"Tiger Tooth Chainsaw Sword lv27/29, Orange Quality"
"Upgrade Points: 9/10, Durability: 10/10, Base Damage: 700"
"Extra Attributes: Rapid Cutting (rotates saw five times per second, dealing five times base damage, now infinite duration) Bloodthirsty Blade (killing a Tier 2 insect restores one durability) Unyielding Skull Crusher (if target's defense is lower than base damage, durability is unaffected; if higher but not exceeding Rapid Cutting's per-second damage, durability consumption is reduced by 50%; if decapitation kills, restores lost durability)."
"Note: Base damage decreases with durability loss."
"Note: Host has reached lv29, with dual upgrade energy stored in gene radiation skill as backup."
Lin Feng examined the new attribute. The "Unyielding" part related to the Rock Solid attribute of the lv29 Tiger Bug, where insufficient attack couldn't bypass defense, significantly reducing damage. In contrast, "Unyielding" reduced wear.
As for "Skull Crusher," it likely related to how he killed it, ensuring a decisive blow by targeting the head.
With Unyielding Skull Crusher, he no longer had to worry about durability in prolonged combat, as long as he aimed for the head.
Though the thought of splitting heads took some getting used to.
With the peak Tiger Bug threat neutralized, Lin Feng, puzzled, turned to the gold-eyed Ling Yi.
Her level, after absorbing dozens of Tier 2 eggs' life energy, also reached the peak of Tier 2:
"Ling Yi, lv29/29, Queen's Avatar"
"HP: 900, Physique: 900, Spirit: 1138"
"Mental Intent—Infinite Reproduction"
"Infinite Reproduction significantly enhanced: Mental Control, Parasitic Possession, Gene Control..."
Ling Yi, after absorbing life energy, had reached unimaginable strength, her mental attribute even surpassing Lin Feng's.
Her physique remained a weak point, linked to her human form's genetic limitations.
Lin Feng was about to inquire when a cough interrupted him. Two Tier 2 members dragged a half-conscious figure from the ground.
It was Shen Jie, who had bravely blocked the peak Tiger Bug's strike.
Coughing up chest blood, unconscious, his Winged Tiger Berserker form faded, but insect traits lingered, excess assimilation turning him into an insectoid.
Seeing Shen Jie unconscious, Lin Feng hurried over, finding his lower body buried in mud, chest armor cracked.
Blood seeped from his wounds.
Shen Jie was gravely injured, Lin Feng's assessment showing a critical state.
"Don't pull! Dig him out!"
Lin Feng halted their actions; Shen Jie's condition couldn't worsen.
They quickly dug him out of the pit.
Lin Feng used the chainsaw sword to kill a Tier 2 egg, pouring its organic nutrient liquid over Shen Jie.
He knew Shen Jie could absorb it.
Assimilation made Shen Jie a natural gene warrior with a robust appetite.
Organic nutrients were a lifesaver.
As the milky liquid soaked Shen Jie and entered his mouth, his body absorbed it, healing external wounds...
But he remained unconscious.
Lin Feng turned to Ling Yi:
"Any solutions? His mental energy's fading, like a candle in the wind. Without help, he might end up comatose."
Ling Yi studied the man, intrigued by his natural synthesis and evolution.
But Lin Feng's vigilance kept her at bay.
Now was the chance. If he died, she could study his body, unlocking a new path to Tier 4.
Even if she couldn't save the insects, she could lead some to escape and preserve their lineage.
But Lin Feng's query, or perhaps Shen Jie's sacrifice, moved Ling Yi. She sighed, knowing her free will had altered her...
Emotions were growing.
She pointed to the hatchery:
"Now, the only hope is inside."
"He absorbed many Tier 2 eggs, meant to gradually reach late Tier 2. But blocking the peak Tiger Bug triggered his stored life energy, releasing it..."
"Without his assimilation, shielding him from mental shock, that energy burst would've wrecked his brain."
"Advancing too fast isn't always good."
Lin Feng frowned, gently placing Shen Jie by the tower:
"Can you control the hatchery?"
Ling Yi admitted:
"The node weakened its control over the hive to handle the Tiger Bug, letting me seize the hatchery. But it could still inhabit other bio-hives, stay alert."
"How will you save Shen Jie? With your intent?" Lin Feng squinted at the fleshy wall.
Under Ling Yi's control, a two-meter crack opened, tendrils reaching out to pull Shen Jie inside...
He floated within the tower.
Ling Yi's hands moved, her eyes glowing, cracking an egg from within, placing Shen Jie inside.
He curled like a fetus in the glow, tendrils connecting to his body.
His permanent insectoid armor, beyond repair, fell away.
As if rebirth was underway.
Seeing this, Lin Feng smiled. If this worked, another gene warrior flaw might be solved.
Ling Yi, seeing his thoughts, said:
"Don't get ideas. Unless you're willing to risk becoming a gene warrior, mastering intent, and spending centuries absorbing insect biotech, it's impossible."
"And it's costly..."
Four or five eggs were drained to revive Shen Jie.
Lin Feng grimaced at the cost, but reviving Shen Jie was worth it.
He asked:
"How long will it take? Jiangbei and Haicheng will soon send reinforcements."
Ling Yi shook her head:
"Shen Jie's issue isn't just physical. His consciousness is trapped in the insect mental world, due to his assimilation..."
"If he survives, he might master his intent and path. Otherwise, he'll be lost forever, never waking."
"I can only ease his burden, simplifying the mental world."
Lin Feng frowned:
"If he can't wake soon..."
Ling Yi waved:
"Why worry? We'll take him and the eggs."
"But before we go, these are yours."
Ling Yi gestured to the meat tower, and Lin Feng understood.
They intended to destroy the hive.
"Finish the developed eggs and protect the Red Beetles, transporting Tier 2 eggs!"
Lin Feng ordered the relieved Tier 2 corps back into action.
Working with Red Beetles was odd.
But they couldn't carry all the eggs, relying on Ling Yi to control the Red Beetles for logistics.
Soon, 380 eggs were carried by giant Red Beetles, including Shen Jie's.
Only the hatchery remained, pocked and eerie in the dark.
With the Red Beetles and the corps gone, Lin Feng and Ling Yi covered the rear.
Lin Feng raised his lv29 electromagnetic cannon at the tower:
"Did you control the node? It hasn't shown."
Ling Yi shook her head, pouting:
"No, I didn't sense it."
"After the Tiger Bug died, it vanished, likely hiding in a hive, but can't flee far."
"Destroy the hive, and it's trapped."
Lin Feng nodded, firing once the Red Beetles were clear.
First, a magnetic storm blanketed the area, electrocuting the hive, then armor-piercing rounds shattered the tower and cavern.
As debris buried it, all was void.
Retreating, Lin Feng recalled his questions, asking Ling Yi:
"Why are peak Tiger Bugs rare? I killed many Tier 2s, but never encountered a peak."
Ling Yi examined the Tiger Bug corpse, replying matter-of-factly:
"Because they're birthed by mid-third-stage queens..."
"Like Black Spinal Bugs, but rarer, about one in three or four thousand Tiger Bugs."
"Peak Tiger Bugs defy queen control, following genetic instinct to deep end zones, battling for survival and fate."
"If successful, they become rare third-stage King Bugs."
"As mid-third-stage queens grow, evolving King Bugs increase..."
"When any queen dies, its life energy is seized, activating the evolution, birthing King Bugs to aid queens against any third-stage foes."
Hearing this, Lin Feng pondered a King Bug's power.
Even lv29 Tiger Bugs could kill dozens of Tier 2 awakeners. As high-tier Kings, equal to queens...
They'd be formidable.
Ling Yi, done with the Tiger Bug's genes, saw Lin Feng's daze, smiling slightly:
"Don't worry, your target is high-tier queens."
"Queens, as swarm commanders, rank low in high-tier power, their intent isn't offensive."
"That's why Bluestar was chosen for Tier 4 queen incubation. Humanity can't threaten queen growth."
"Giving time and resources for this global evolution contest..."
Lin Feng: "..."
"Let's go, it's time."
Ling Yi nodded, pausing:
"The mandible hive stopped, maybe linked to the furnace you destroyed, so materials are just this peak Tiger Bug."
"Need Red Beetles to carry it out?"
Lin Feng considered, shaking his head:
"No, I have other plans."
Ling Yi left, guarding the eggs from node attack.
Lin Feng touched the Tiger Bug, assessing it:
"Tiger Bug lv29—Dead"
"Has Rock Solid attribute, all shell usable as orange Tier 2 material, absorbing all grants bonus."
"Note: Equal to 20 orange mandibles."
Pleased, Lin Feng absorbed it into his lv24 Flying Tiger Armor.
Lacking mandibles and using Flying Tiger's defense, he hadn't upgraded it extensively.
Now was the chance, using local materials.
He wouldn't miss it.
Two hive raids showed the armor's tactical gaps.
Facing high-tier queens' dangers, upgrading Flying Tiger was more vital than equipping the Land Cruiser.
And the cruiser needed upgrades to charge his gene radiation.
Orange light enveloped the corpse, its half-meter armor stored in the Flying Tiger.
With the upgrade underway, Lin Feng fired the electromagnetic cannon into the cavern.
Boom! Boom!
The ceiling collapsed, burying shattered hives, turning the hive to rubble.
Reaching the tunnel entrance...
Lin Feng destroyed the last bio-hive.
A prompt flashed:
"Congratulations on destroying a bio-hive!"
"Killed parasitic host—node symbiote"
"Received ten Tier 2 upgrade energy..."
"Received node symbiote's gift: insect intent mental energy."-Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there
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