These girls moved too slowly. The prehistoric humans' physical condition was clearly poor. In a rush, I hoisted one over my shoulder and clamped another under each arm, then signaled the last girl to climb onto my back. Unfortunately she didn't grasp what was happening. I kicked her off in frustration, and as she fell backward she landed precisely on my shoulders.

The soldiers had already discovered us. They raised their laser rifles and opened fire. I pushed myself to carry four girls upward through the blasts, leaping over the beams and sprinting across the ceiling panels toward our escape hatch.

Thankfully none of these girls were overweight - this fortunate fact hadn't impaired my mobility. A few boundless leaps brought me to the exit door's edge. Looking back, I saw hordes of soldiers and workers scrambling up the stairs in pursuit. That handsome man had already risen from his fall to direct the search party. For now they'd overlooked our hidden chamber - let's hope their investigation remains delayed or those two women might be doomed.

Without realizing it, my shoulder-borne captive was positioned directly at my mouth level. As I glanced back and we collided, I muttered, "Sorry, didn't mean to."

The girl suddenly responded in a breathless voice, though her language remained completely unintelligible to me. All I could say was, "No more talk! I've saved you now must return for others. You'll forgive my roughness this once."

Upon this realization, I discovered the two underarm captives had likewise positioned their... private areas near my grip. One of them had already lost all four limbs, yet the searing heat from the laser had cauterized her wounds without blood loss. With immediate medical attention she might still survive.

Ignoring the advancing pursuers, I dashed toward ground level just as monstrous insects began swarming through the tunnels. It seemed they'd received some underground signal - I needed to move faster before these creatures could block my path completely.

Not only were there hordes of giant bugs but soldiers also emerged from various shafts. While ordinary rifles wouldn't worry me, all their weapons were laser-based. These ancient people had surprisingly advanced equipment - good thing I knew how to evade them effectively.

The tunnels formed a complex maze. When all upward routes failed, I scanned overhead and selected the thinnest section of ceiling. With one forceful impact through the rock we emerged covered in dust but free of encirclement. At dead ends I simply tunneled my own path until finally breaking through the sand into bright sunlight.

After orienting myself northeast by instinct - though an obstacle field of emerging insects now blocked this direction - I decided to veer rightward first, delivering these four women to safety before returning for Elena and Gao Tian'er. The creatures' sluggish movement posed no real threat; unless they developed airborne transport my speed would remain unmatched among them.

I sprinted forty kilometers before setting down the quartet. Then I gestured sternly, "Stay here quietly while I return to rescue others. Don't move or be recaptured and you'll have yourselves to blame."

Whether they understood mattered little - three girls clutched together in terror, their pale forms creating a hypnotic mass. I had no patience for this spectacle, so turned tail and dashed back without hesitation.

The insects and soldiers were just beginning to search when suddenly my return appearance brought fresh excitement. Laser beams and acidic fluids rained down as I plunged into the soldier ranks snatching two rifles before unleashing devastating fire on both human and insect forces alike.

Numerous attackers made for a large target vulnerable to destruction, though these bugs proved stubborn against light laser blasts despite their eventual demise from wounds. The soldiers however felled in waves - this prehistoric civilization clearly had no defenses against laser fire. Hadn't their technological development surpassed ours?

Carving through the chaos I re-entered that vast underground research facility only to find it nearly abandoned. Bursting open a storage door I bellowed, "Elena!"

Two heads suddenly popped up from among fallen equipment. Elena exclaimed joyfully, "Zhao Qian! We knew you'd never leave us behind!"

I swept Elena into my arms. "Who said anything about abandoning you? You're my girlfriend after all."

Elena smirked smugly. "Of course - without me who would supply your fresh milk?"

At this moment of crisis did she really think about dairy products? Lowering Gao Tian'er onto my back I heard approaching voices. Within minutes the soldiers would return so we had to leave now.

Elena and Gao Tian'er exchanged our captured rifles since their original weapons lacked sufficient power. They took positions forward and rear providing cover while I sprinted through enemy fire.

Soon all three of us emerged above ground despite remaining soldier and bug patrols - my speed made them irrelevant hazards. After retrieving our hidden gear we quickly outdistanced pursuers as Elena panted, "Finally! Where are the other four?"

I replied between breaths, "They're ahead. Let's alter course to bypass this insect territory since these rifles won't stop them."

Elena kissed me then wrapped her arms around my neck. "Agreed - lead on, darling. Oh by the way, when you look back at Gao Tian'er she's giving you a very flirtatious glance."

Of course I understood who Elena meant. "Stop joking - I'm not interested in ancient people. Their admiration for heroes is natural but temporary. When we leave they'll forget us completely."

Elena suddenly asked, "Do you think our actions here might affect six thousand years later?"

I hesitated before answering. "Never considered that possibility. As an expert what do you think?"

"Nobody's tested this," she replied seriously. "According to my theory our interference has already altered the timeline. The original future won't continue on its former path but instead diverge into a new dimension while maintaining the old one."

I asked, "So we can act freely without changing anything back home?"

She nodded solemnly. "Just an educated guess - remember my time machine research technically failed. If something goes wrong don't blame me."

My scalp prickled at this thought. If our interference disrupted six thousand years in the future everything could unravel - especially if any of my wives vanished. I resolved to avoid meddling further.

I advised Elena, "She's starting to understand us now. From this point forward never mention six thousand years again - use 'homeland' instead. Also stay out of trouble and just observe before leaving."

Elena agreed earnestly. "Understood. Otherwise returning home to a transformed world might be too much for me to handle."

As we reached the four half-naked women they hadn't wandered far. Setting down Gao Tian'er she instantly jumped forward, disregarding her injured legs as she clasped the others in tearful embrace.

I tugged Elena aside. "We can't understand their language - let's give them space this is too awkward."

"But they're practically naked!" Elena teased mischievously.

Wrapping an arm around her I replied, "With you here what would make me look at them? Hurry and find some clothes before they catch cold."

Sorting through our pack she added slyly, "A cold might be convenient - then your medicine could come in handy again."

I lay back on the grass. "You misunderstand - my medicines are lethal poisons to them not healing remedies. Genetic incompatibility was proven in our homeland."

Accepting clothes from Elena I noted, "These four aren't identical to Gao Tian'er so they must be commoners rather than priestesses."

Now clothed and composed we addressed Gao Tian'er who seemed partially fluent though comprehension remained limited. The three intact women expressed intense emotions then switched to worried expressions toward her.

After conversing with them she pointed at me and made additional gestures which received approving nods before all three suddenly knelt before us.

Elena gasped, "What are they doing?"

"They probably want something from you," I suggested.

She pushed me forward. "They must be asking for your help! You're the one who should talk to these naked women on their knees!"

This was indeed awkward as I helped them up. "Please dress first - in our homeland this isn't customary."

Ignoring my advice Gao Tian'er suddenly attacked us with a plea about saving her "princess". After several failed attempts to communicate through language barriers we agreed to investigate.

Though primitive these people showed surprising resilience - during conversation the limbless woman unexpectedly revived though her condition remained disturbingly grotesque. Still I had no choice but to carry her while Gao Tian'er continued riding on my back, leaving everyone else to walk including Elena who received no special privileges this time.

This drastically slowed our pace - barely eleven kilometers by midday. Eventually frustration led me to resecure the limbless woman underarm and sprint off with Elena in hand before returning for others through multiple relay trips.

The terrain shifted as rolling hills replaced open plains, dotted with low grassy knolls leading toward a distant herd of cattle that prompted our first rest stop.

Elena brought water and wiped my face. "You're exhausted Zhao Qian," she said gently. "Sit down - I don't want your body to give out."

Her unexpected concern touched me deeply. "It's painful watching you walk too."

She smiled back tearfully. "Don't be so good to me - I might never leave home again!"

I replied, "Then come home with me! My research facilities are superior even to those in America."

Still teasing she countered, "My family life is more refined than yours. How could I live as a commoner?"

Inside my mind I mused, "Soon your shipyard will be mine - just wait and see!"

As we shared rations with Gao Tian'er I asked about the princess location. Her pointing toward the cattle herd confused me - was this some kind of animal queen?

But why would an ugly or monstrous ruler surround herself with beautiful women? Maybe their standards differed entirely.

While eating a giant egg my attention fell on the herd where something strange occurred. Among normal-looking cattle lurked one most peculiar creature - a horse with human features!

Though startled I quickly adjusted to this reality after encountering the serpent-woman earlier. This horse however had subtle differences from modern breeds: shorter stature, claw-like forehooves resembling fingers rather than hooves, short fur compared to long coats, and its male gender was unmistakable.