The Fierce Wolf Badger’s renowned keen sense of smell had indeed led it to the artificial human brains hidden within plastic and rubber, a substance it deemed edible. Thus, what Fang Senyan and the others found was a headless corpse torn apart like a tattered rag doll, with rubber organs, plastic vasculature, and peculiar springs exposed from the wounds—a sight that wasn't terrifying so much as possessing a heightened sense of desolation.

Upon receiving permission, the three artificial humans under Fang Senyan’s command silently gathered around, disassembling their fellow automaton’s body with ghastly efficiency, like ghouls, to salvage useful components for potential repairs. Due to the cramped confines of the Wasp Flyers, the issue of repairing the artificial humans had been neglected; for most Contractors, they were simply tools to be discarded at any moment.

During the dismantling process, every artificial human even used their mouths and tongues to suck clean the residual nutrient fluid off the parts... because their programming constantly reminded them to conserve every expense for their master.

“This is truly a brutal efficiency.” Watching the actions of these automata, Fang Senyan felt no anger toward them, but instead couldn’t help but reflect on the mindset of the superiors who dictated their behavioral code: Why couldn't they be granted some degree of human dignity? Could such an empire, such a future, truly be humanity's utopia?

However, Fang Senyan’s contemplation and emotion were quickly interrupted by an event. Artificial Human No. 2, who had been searching the vicinity, returned carrying a bulging backpack whose straps had snapped—likely the reason it had been dropped—and emblazoned on its surface were the letters V.C.K.

Looking at the pack, a smile touched Fang Senyan’s lips. Aldaris’s confident and defiant words seemed to still echo in his ears: “We don't need to carry a pulverizing extractor; they can do that. It will be their honor to lend it to us!”

“It seems I won't need to borrow it from them,” Fang Senyan said, his mouth curving upward. He pulled open the zipper, revealing inside that costly pulverizing extractor. This device was used to immediately extract and process high-purity Lian Ore on site. To purchase one would easily cost twenty Merit Points and a hundred thousand general credits.

Fortunately, although the pulverizing extractor was bulky, its weight was manageable, and Fang Senyan’s three automata carried it effortlessly.

“Brilliant work!” Fang Senyan snapped his fingers, pulled out a 250ml bottle of nutrient fluid, and tossed it to Artificial Human No. 2, giving him a thumbs-up. “This is a reward for your diligent service.”

A stiff smile finally appeared on Artificial Human No. 2’s face. “It is my duty, Master.”

At this moment, Artificial Human No. 1 finished inspecting the broken backpack and approached, stating seriously, “Master, based on the backpack’s features and the serial number on the remains, we have established the identity of the pursued Contractor.”

Fang Senyan nodded. “Speak.”

“It is Mr. Ronnie,” Artificial Human No. 1 reported.

“Ronnie?” Fang Senyan instantly recalled: a thin man with long fingers, possessing the physical talents of a pianist or a thief, and a crucial supporter of MT Hedikuri. Ronnie positioned himself in the team as a close-range damage dealer and scout, an Agility-type Awakened. Judging by the strength he displayed, his speed was indeed quite remarkable.

Knowing it was Ronnie, Fang Senyan felt no immediate urge to investigate his fate. After all, they shared no acquaintance; there was no need to risk taking unnecessary chances for the sake of haste. Fang Senyan was already realizing that while these three automata offered no combat assistance, they were incredibly helpful and reassuring in other respects.

Just then, Fang Senyan suddenly sensed something amiss, and Ramtas also looked around alertly, its thick porcine nostrils constantly sniffing and snorting wetly. Suddenly, Fang Senyan stepped forward, his eyes flashing, and the terrifying phantom image of a wild bull rose behind him, launching the Horn of Fury without warning!

Grass flew as Fang Senyan shot forward at extreme speed; each step he took left deep indentations, spraying earth.

Fang Senyan slammed into his target only to find the being encased in an indescribable shell of stone, like a terracotta warrior. Fang Senyan grunted in pain, feeling as if he had struck a reinforced concrete wall, and the earth beneath his feet immediately erupted and rapidly solidified, forming a barrier of stone before him.

But he immediately shifted his weight and forced his way through, breaking out of the obstruction. Amidst the flying dust, the +7 West was drawn, slicing through the air with a shrill, cold gleam!

However, a colossal stone spire, easily twice a man’s height, burst from the ground, blocking the blade. Fang Senyan snorted coldly and drove a knee strike forward. The rock-hard spire snapped with a crack, the several-hundred-kilogram mass tumbling in the air with a muffled thud before crashing into the bushes three or four meters away, kicking up a large cloud of dirt.

But in that instant of hesitation, a second massive spire bizarrely solidified from the ground! Fang Senyan took a deep breath; the Nightmare Sigil on his chest pulsed, forming a tightly clenched fist, and without pausing, he delivered another knee strike, shattering the spire again!

After breaking five spires consecutively, the opponent seemed to finally exhaust himself, executing a backward roll in an attempt to flee. Fang Senyan immediately hurled a Curse Potion onto the ground, freezing him in place, and then raised the +7 West to strike. As the blade descended, the figure let out a piercing scream: “This… what kind of freakish weapon is this! Stop hitting! It’s me!!”

As the figure spoke, the stone shell covering him rapidly melted away, revealing himself to be the team’s other magic-oriented Contractor, Bokang, who defined his role as support and ranged firepower. Both Hedikuri and Aziza, the two main tanks, treated him with considerable respect.

Consequently, Bokang usually looked down on the low-profile Fang Senyan, primarily because he was only a Zhi Lier Zhe (Explorer). But Bokang had not anticipated that this guy would be so monstrous; that rapid-fire barrage of attacks was an overwhelmingly oppressive fighting style that seemed to suffocate the air right out of a person!

As the saying goes, strength earns respect. Although the arrogant Bokang certainly had trump cards of his own, he knew Fang Senyan hadn't revealed everything either.

Although the +7 West felt inadequate against high-level plot creatures, it still posed a significant deterrent to Agility-focused specialists and magic-type Contractors. That single blow to Bokang’s body made him deeply recognize the man’s true strength.

“You are truly maddening,” Bokang said with a wry smile, looking at Fang Senyan. “I rushed over when I saw the smoke signal, only to be intercepted by the Sea of Sun-Wheel Flowers. Those damned mature seed pods spray seeds like machine-gun fire when touched! One of my artificial humans was paralyzed. I finally managed to arrive, only to almost be killed by you right here.”

Fang Senyan knew that perhaps only half of what this fellow said was true, but he didn't care what Bokang’s true intentions were. Since the test was complete, as long as there were no direct conflicts of interest between them now, there was no threat. After all, anyone capable of arriving here wasn't foolish and understood the principle of mutual benefit—they were all grasshoppers on the same rope.

With their forces combined, their courage grew. Bokang was especially impressed by Fang Senyan’s willingness to take the lead in scouting without any intention of staying behind, admiring the man’s nerve and responsibility. He cooperated fully, assuming Fang Senyan had a bizarre build focusing on main Strength with secondary Intelligence (due to concocting potions and summoning), unaware that Fang Senyan was simply accustomed to playing the MT role and didn't mind leading the way.

At this point, the two confirmed that Ronnie had been caught off guard by the rampaging Wolf Badger and was forced to flee in disarray. After tracking for nearly four or five kilometers, they reached a river valley on the plain. Unlike Earth's environment, this plain often featured deep, sheer canyons, within which swift currents rushed ceaselessly, their turbulent waves occasionally surging fifteen or eighteen meters high—a truly magnificent sight.

Judging by the traces of battle, Ronnie must have turned to fight the Wolf Badger here but gained no advantage. The residual bloodstains clearly indicated that Ronnie was seriously wounded, while the blood shed by the Wolf Badger had stained dozens of square meters of ground red.

At this juncture, Ronnie had chosen to flee again, likely attempting to evade the battle until the Wolf Badger weakened from blood loss. Unaware of the monstrous traits of raging creatures, he was pursued relentlessly. Fang Senyan and the others followed for a few more kilometers, reaching the edge of the plain, where the imposing mountain range in the distance was now visible.

Right then, Ramtas suddenly stopped dead, stiffening in place. Fang Senyan immediately felt that it, too, sensed something, as waves of intense heart palpitations were transmitted to his mind!

It was an innate, visceral fear! A trembling that originated in the cells!

Fang Senyan instantly knew that a creature from the apex of the food chain had appeared. He immediately felt the urge to leave, his expression gravely serious. Forget Ronnie; he could fend for himself. But just then, a breeze blew by, carrying an incredibly strong scent of blood from not far away. Ramtas turned its head, immediately slammed its staff onto the ground, and the dense vegetation rapidly flattened, revealing an astonishing scene on an open patch of land thirty meters away...