Chapter 1 Tita

Tita had long since reached the peak of her Flowing Heart Martial Arts, but she was always a bit short of the Soul Source, unable to condense it. This meant she lacked a crucial, devastating move for critical moments, which was why she lacked confidence. She was at a considerable disadvantage in one-on-one fights. She hadn't encountered an opponent like Bei Karosei on her journey so far.

"Are you confident?"

"Absolutely, Ayouyou has spoken, so it has to work even if it doesn't."

"Deal!" Tita didn't mince words. With the Soul Source, she had a safety net. "How do you usually train? You seem so lazy. Talent really is the most important thing."

Li Hao coughed a few times. "Eat more, sleep more, exercise more. You must have some misunderstanding. I'm the hard-working type. Tita, Ayouyou and I have something to discuss."

Tita gave Li Hao a big eye-roll, finally willing to give the two some private time. Once the third wheel left, Li Hao breathed a sigh of relief. Ayouyou smiled. "You're so bad!"

"Huh?"

"Clearly, you're the one who needs Sister Tita's ability, but you made it sound like she was taking advantage of you. Even with Flowing Heart Martial Arts, you're still no match for Chao Qinglong, right?" Ayouyou said with a smile.

"That's all thanks to your cooperation. Half the credit is yours," Li Hao said with a smile. "I think Tita's struggle isn't about defeating Bei Karosei, but about developing her own style."

If it were just an individual, it would be one thing, but the entire team was lacking by a whole level unless a miracle happened, there was really no possibility.

The two returned to "Ayouyou's" residence, which Su Yu had specially arranged. Although it wasn't as good as Arths' environment, it was quiet and private. Ayouyou usually stayed here.

They both drank some wine and were in a very good mood. The night was very beautiful, and Teacher Li was a little restless. As soon as he entered the house, his eyes became a little fiery.

"Senior, I've noticed that you're always particularly bold when you're with Ayouyou, but especially honest when with Arths. Why is that?" Ayouyou suddenly said, tilting her slender, fair neck.

Li Hao's old face turned red. To him, they were both beautiful, but in different ways. Ayouyou's beauty was lively and approachable, making him want to cherish her. Arths' beauty had an elegant, refined, and untouchable quality… Li Hao was also afraid that he wouldn't be able to control himself.

Sometimes his self-control wasn't so reliable.

Looking at Ayouyou's slightly provocative expression, Old Devil Li gritted his teeth. "Do you believe that tonight, both Ayouyou and Arths will not be able to escape my grasp!"

"Really? Then I have to try. Wait a moment, I need to remove my makeup, this is so uncomfortable." Ayouyou smiled and slipped away from Li Hao's clutches, running into the dressing room.

Li Hao smiled, looking at the beautiful scenery outside the window, listening to the rushing water inside.

Ding-dong.

"Second Brother, there's movement over there. The base's temporary operation has already been underway for half an hour." It was Kevin's Sky讯.

Li Hao sighed helplessly. How was he going to tell Ayouyou? Li Hao knocked on Ayouyou's door.

"What's wrong?" Ayouyou turned around. After removing her makeup, she fully embodied the meaning of bright eyes and fair skin, a beauty that could overthrow kingdoms.

"I have some urgent business to attend to. I need to go back."

Ayouyou was also stunned for a moment, gently biting her lip. "What's so urgent?"

Li Hao hugged Ayouyou and kissed her gently. "If I said I was going to save humanity, would you laugh at me?"

Ayouyou trembled slightly in his arms. "Is it dangerous?"

Li Hao held Ayouyou tightly. "Not dangerous. I'm actually very afraid of death."

Ding-dong, ding-dong.

The Sky讯 rang repeatedly. Li Hao quickly opened it. It was Kevin's signal: "Base signal interrupted."

"Ayouyou, I'm going to sleep here for a while. No matter what happens, don't worry, don't be surprised. I can handle it! Yu."

Ayouyou's face flushed at first, then she became serious. "Don't worry, I'll protect you!"

Li Hao didn't have time to explain. He fell directly onto Ayouyou's bed. After only ten seconds or so, Li Hao's breathing became even, and slower and slower.

Kepler Ontario Base No. 5 detected a strong K23 reaction. This was a signal of a formed K23 mobile source. The base immediately dispatched a squadron of four mecha teams. This mobile source signal was extremely strong. Once captured, it could be the biggest harvest in recent years.

However, half an hour after the mecha squadron left, the base was attacked by an unknown creature. No one knew how it had infiltrated. Screams filled the base. The mobile soldiers responsible for guarding the base had all fallen. Their mechs were penetrated, and the pilots inside were left with only clothing and bloodstains. The people were gone.

The remaining staff concentrated in the most fortified underground laboratory in the base. The thick titanium alloy steel plates had completely sealed off the entire laboratory, preventing anyone from entering or leaving. The outside monitoring system had been completely destroyed. Everyone left in the entire base was here. If it hadn't been for a mobile soldier detonating a bomb before his death, they wouldn't have discovered that the monster had infiltrated.

The alarm device for detecting carbon-based organisms showed no reaction at all. Si Kong Beize was leading the soldiers to check their equipment. Pato died. He was the one who detonated the bomb to buy time for everyone. This was an unprecedented monster. "Fat Luo, count the equipment."

There were six mobile soldiers and thirty-odd staff members left. Bolina was bandaging the wounded. Many people had seen the monster. Its size wasn't particularly large, but it wasn't the same species as the giant insects. It looked like a giant dog, but it could walk upright and run on all fours. It possessed the ability to be invisible and was covered in strange tentacles. Once these tentacles pierced a person, it would suck them dry. Especially its eerie eyes, unlike the simple brutality of the giant insects, were full of cold-blooded killing and playfulness.

Si Kong Beize still felt a chill down his spine from that gaze. After serving in the military for so many years, he had seen his fair share, but at that moment, his body couldn't move, as if possessed by a ghost.

Si Kong Beize took a hard drag of his cigarette. This was the last bastion of the base, and also the place to detect infiltrators. It was more than a hundred meters underground. The outside was finished. He had never encountered such a giant insect before. Its seemingly soft tentacles could easily penetrate mechs and were surprisingly fast, almost disappearing from sight in a flash. The most terrifying thing was that it waited for the four squads to leave the base before attacking. Now he even suspected whether the mobile source was created by this giant insect.

He had never fought such a humiliating battle. This was already a one-sided massacre.

"Kair, can you contact the outside?"

"Boss, that damn thing seems to have destroyed our signal station. There's no signal at all."

Everyone was a little desperate. This was simply beyond what ordinary giant insects could do. Fortunately, there was a backup generator here and two years' worth of food reserves, so there wouldn't be a crisis for the time being. Moreover, the five major bases had regular contact. Once a base lost contact, the other bases would definitely take action. Furthermore, the attack a while ago had already been reported. Now, they could only hold their ground and wait for rescue.

Dong.

The sudden loud noise made everyone stop what they were doing, and their faces turned pale. Then there were two more impacts. The sound was coming from the exit of the underground laboratory.

At this time, the exit was sealed by a titanium alloy door three meters thick. The remaining six mobile soldiers immediately aimed their laser guns at the door.

Not even a tank insect or a high-energy insect could blast through this door in a short time, but for some reason, the thought of that monster sent chills down his spine.

Dong, dong, dong.

Every sound seemed to strike at the hearts of the people. Some of the staff members with weaker mental fortitude were already on the verge of collapse and couldn't help but cry, but they were quickly silenced by the people around them.

Si Kong Beize's mech made a gesture, and the other five mobile soldiers stood guard. He piloted the Acalanatha towards the door, and as he approached the door, the thumping sound stopped.

Across the thick titanium alloy door, Si Kong Beize shuddered. He felt that the monster behind the door was staring at him.

The Acalanatha slowly retreated, taking a deep breath. There was no other way now. He could only trust the solid fortifications here. As the base's last bastion, it could withstand this monster.

A few minutes later, the laboratory fell into a deathly silence. The monster stopped knocking. The fortifications here were built to resist giant insect attacks from the start.

Another hour passed. Everyone didn't dare to breathe loudly. It felt like years were passing. Si Kong Beize walked to the door again. The golden zone was opened. He couldn't sense the situation at the door, but if the monster was still there, there would be some collision.

This time, there was no feeling of danger. The monster should have temporarily retreated.

"Everyone, the monster can't break through the door. We need to prepare for a protracted battle. This monster is very likely lurking outside. We just need to wait for rescue."

With Si Kong Beize saying this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. It was like surviving a disaster, and their mood relaxed. There were plenty of supplies here, so there was no need to worry. Some secret experiments were usually done here as well.

However, Si Kong Beize didn't relax at all. The door couldn't be broken through, but what about other places? Was this fortification really flawless?

Waiting for rescue. With this monster's combat power, unless a large force was dispatched, it would just be sending food. The hateful thing was that the intelligence couldn't be sent out at all. They had never expected giant insects to have this type. Their biggest means in the past was the interference of electromagnetic giant insects, but humans had long since developed countermeasures.

"Instructor, have something to eat." Bolina handed Si Kong Beize compressed biscuits and water.

Si Kong Beize nodded. "Bolina, you're an expert in this field. What type of giant insect is this?"

Bolina shook her head. "Never seen it before. From an evolutionary perspective, it completely violates the evolutionary direction of the currently known giant insects on this planet."

"Are you saying that it might not be a giant insect?" Si Kong Beize said in a deep voice.

"I don't know. If we can catch it, we might be able to uncover the secrets of Kepler!" Suddenly, Bolina's eyes showed a hint of excitement and fanaticism.

Si Kong Beize couldn't get excited at all. If this creature was a new species, then there was likely more than one. The level of danger on Kepler would be re-evaluated. This was also why humans had always been cautious and dared not blindly expand Kepler's exploration.

Cici Ci.

The mech's communicator made a series of tearing sounds. "Mom, Mom, this is Kamala, please respond if you receive, please respond if you receive."

Everyone immediately perked up. The main force that had gone out had returned. Everyone couldn't help but cheer.

Si Kong Beize quickly turned on the intercom. "Kamala, Kamala, this is Mom, how are you?"

"Captain, we returned immediately after the signal was interrupted. What happened?"

"That monster came. You guys immediately notify the other bases and be careful!"

"Yes, Captain, we just searched and didn't find any trace of the monster!"

"That dog thing can turn invisible, be careful of everything, Kamala, you've done a great service, I'll recommend you for commendation!"

"Thank you, Captain!" Kamala said gratefully immediately.

At this moment, not to mention Si Kong Beize, the other team members' expressions changed drastically. Everything was normal before, but this last sentence.

In an instant, the air froze.

Si Kong Beize took a deep breath. The worst-case scenario had occurred. "What exactly are you?"

There was silence in the communicator, Cici Ci.

Just outside the titanium alloy door, a human was standing holding a communicator, but behind him was a tube inserted into his body. A dark shadow was hidden in the darkness. The next second, the tube flashed with light, and then the human's body also began to emit a fluorescent glow, beginning to tremble and wriggle.

Gudong, gudong, gudong.

Only a piece of clothing was left on the ground.