They were testing the prototype Electromagnetic Cloud Burst Bomb, a recently developed weapon with immense destructive potential, but currently plagued by an extremely high failure rate upon detonation for unknown reasons. Upon detonation, it inflicts 30 to 80 points of sonic damage on creatures within a ten-meter radius of the impact point. This damage specifically targets auditory and balance organs like the Zerg’s vestibular apparatus, meaning that alongside the direct damage, it inflicts an additional 10-second stun effect on Zerg units.

Fang Senyan remembered clearly how several machine gunners, in moments of dire emergency, had taken these things for suicide charges, which is why he was struck by the memory. He tried lifting one and immediately felt its crushing weight; though it was only about the size of a bowl, it easily weighed close to thirty kilograms. Furthermore, the procedure for detonation was convoluted, which explained why those machine gunners had hesitated to use it as a simple grenade.

To others, this item was practically useless, but for Fang Senyan, whose health pool stood at a towering 530 points, the 80 points of damage was not frightening. While this damage wasn't mitigated by Toughness, it was still subject to armor reduction, meaning the actual damage taken by Fang Senyan would only be around 40 points. Even taking the full blast from two or three would hardly be fatal. Trading a mere 40-odd points of health for a devastating area-of-effect attack coupled with a powerful stunning capability made it an absolute gem for robbing and traveling.

Therefore, Fang Senyan unhesitatingly scooped up every single one, leaving not a single piece behind. However, the negative repercussions were immediately apparent: the Commander’s face instantly darkened to the color of soot, clearly regretting his earlier casual instruction to "take whatever you want." His demeanor toward Fang Senyan and his group became markedly colder, and he promptly issued them an eviction notice.

Fortunately, the benevolent Dr. Kelter seemed not to be a part of the "Fatal Helmet" base personnel. Thus, Fang Senyan’s greedy actions didn't directly impact his personal interests, so he remained as amiable as before, still honoring the rescue from the previous battle. Hearing they intended to leave, he offered a few words of farewell. Since Fang Senyan and the other had achieved their objective of receiving treatment, conserving time was paramount; avoiding the "Fatal Helmet" base was precisely what they preferred. After saying their goodbyes, they mounted the reconnaissance hoverbike they had previously acquired, recalibrated their direction, and sped off toward the nearest crash marker indicated on their holographic map.

While en route, navigating around hazardous zones—such as areas prone to ionizing frequency bursts or deep-burrowing worm territories—the journey took them a full six hours to cover what the map marked as a mere three to four hundred kilometers in a straight line. To their regret, after an extensive search, they found no trace of the troop transport landing. They did, however, encounter several indigenous creatures that seemed to be peacefully grazing, which certainly broadened their horizons.

Adhering to the principle of "I won't bother them if they don't bother me," Fang Senyan and his companion left the native fauna alone. They even spotted a massive blister beetle, strikingly similar to the fire-spitting beetles they had encountered before, yet this creature was incredibly docile. It was resting in the shade of an underground fissure, chewing on saltbush and a patch of black moss.

Jin Kuang, having been cured of his ailment, was revitalized; he was feeling quite spirited, even indulging in some youthful bravado. He hopped onto the giant beetle’s carapace, triumphantly directing the behemoth forward, enjoying a few kilometers of free ride. It occurred to them that the ferocious fire-spitting beetles might very well be the result of the Zerg incorporating its genes after assimilation. Despite the external similarity, the temperaments of the two creatures were worlds apart.

Under normal circumstances, traveling through the night is perilous, as it risks driver fatigue and the inability to clearly see obstacles in the darkness, leading to accidents. Fortunately, once the Contractors’ physical data became digitized, they could maintain a high state of concentration for extended periods. Moreover, any obstacle capable of flipping their hoverbike was likely massive. After a brief discussion, the two decided against stopping and instead shot directly toward the next location marked on the map, kicking up a dense plume of sand behind them as they sped away into the distance.

After another hundred kilometers of hard riding, they were less than ten kilometers from the next suspected crash site. Even with their Contractor physique, the bumps and jolts of the entire night had taken a toll. While physical exhaustion was negligible, mental fatigue was unavoidable. They pulled over to drink some water and catch their breath.

Their mood was one of growing urgency—an hour prior, Fang Senyan had inadvertently noticed that his Honor Score had dropped by another point. The implication was clear: the situation back at the Reef outpost had deteriorated again. Should their team be wiped out and the Protagonist killed, it was highly likely that everyone in this temporary team would be forcibly ejected from the current world. In that event, mission failure would cost Fang Senyan and his partner six Honor Points and three high-attribute points. While such a loss wouldn't cripple them, especially since they had each secured a black-grade accessory, letting the local mission slip through their fingers was certainly frustrating.

After resting their minds for about ten minutes, they donned their combat armor, prepared for a fight, and piloted the hoverbike toward the search area. From a great distance, they spotted the tail section of the transport aircraft. Its belly had plowed a deep furrow several hundred meters long across the desert, like a gruesome, fresh scar, before the aircraft plunged headfirst into an approaching sand dune. It appeared to be a relatively successful crash landing; there was no explosion or fire, nor signs of violent impact. It was likely that the crew’s biggest danger was being smothered alive by the shifting sand.

However, as they closed the distance to the wrecked ship, their expressions grew heavy. Although the scene appeared quiet and peaceful from afar, upon closer inspection, clear evidence of combat was everywhere: fragments of combat armor stained with thick, dark blood; patches of dried, brownish viscera; stark white skeletons of uneaten prey; and distinct, earth-toned shell craters. Even the hull of the crashed transport bore the corrosive marks characteristic of Spine Crawler acid. All these signs testified that this crash site had been the scene of a fierce battle!

Compared to Fang Senyan, a novice in combat, Mogen Sha, the veteran, observed and identified more clues. After confirming the immediate vicinity was clear of danger, he began to wander with purpose: casually moving a rock to discover a piece of torn fabric to touch, picking up a shell fragment seen in a sand drift to examine, sniffing the ground like a hound, and even daring to lick a patch of dried blood. He then returned to Fang Senyan with a grim expression:

“They were attacked within half an hour of landing. The assault was sudden and swift, so sudden that they couldn't even salvage some supplies from the wrecked ship, and they were forced to abandon several critically injured comrades trapped inside the cabin.”

Fang Senyan scanned their surroundings and nodded, affirming the assessment. He suddenly recalled something: “What about the pilots?”

Mogen Sha shook his head slightly: “The front section of the ship is completely buried in the dune. The pilot did well; if he hadn’t hit the dune, he would have plowed straight into the rocky flats ahead... But a landing like this means the cockpit would be instantly buried under hundreds of tons of sand. And only about a dozen people escaped. If they were all standard soldiers, the pursuing Zerg would have caught up within an hour and gnawed their bones clean!”

Fang Senyan took a deep breath and decided firmly: “You should be able to track their retreat direction, right? Let’s follow them and see.”

Mogen Sha nodded: “No problem, but the hoverbike probably won’t work anymore. The terrain is getting complicated here, and we could be ambushed at any moment! A single hit could wreck the bike, and being seated on it makes it easy to miss subtle clues.”

If Fang Senyan were alone, he wouldn’t fear a Zerg ambush, but Mogen Sha would be in serious trouble if even two Hydralisks managed to approach and attack him. Therefore, caution was the best approach. The two decided to bury the hoverbike under the sand. Fang Senyan took the lead, carrying the flamethrower—a creature’s nightmare for Zerglings—with Mogen Sha following seven or eight meters behind. This formation allowed them to watch each other’s backs, while Mogen Sha could utilize his superior long-range suppressing fire.

Silence reigned all around them as they followed the clear, messy trail westward. They were fortunate that no sandstorm had blown in the last two days, as tracking would have been nearly impossible otherwise. After circling the crashed ship once, Mogen Sha sighed again, and Fang Senyan knew why—a small path had been shockingly etched into the desert floor! A path clearly worn down by countless trampling footprints and drag marks!!!

Calculating this, the Zerg forces sent to pursue the fleeing survivors must have deployed an entire army! And terrifyingly, this force included ranged, noxious creatures like the Spine Crawlers. Mogen Sha looked at Fang Senyan, clearly hesitating to speak. Fang Senyan considered this and stated seriously: “I know you’re about to advise me to give up, but have you considered this: we spent a day at the Steel Outpost after landing, and then lost at least a day and a half en route. Even if there was a massive Zerg presence here two and a half days ago, they’ve likely dispersed by now. The reason so many Zergs congregated here must be the immense noise caused by the ship crash. If we two can lure the Zerg into a full mobilization, luring the tiger away from its lair to strike at their nest becomes incredibly easy. I believe this Zerg tribe would have been wiped out long ago. So, even if we run into danger, it should be within manageable limits.”