The struggle between 111 and the God Devourer was not just a contest of strength; they were both systems, their data intertwined. If one could infiltrate the other's core, it would be far more thorough than destroying its physical avatar.
Both were trying their best while guarding against the other.
The laser gun activated, emitting a bright light. The beam shot towards the most densely packed group of team members.
The laser was dazzlingly bright. Luo Qi didn't dare to close his eyes completely. He shielded his eyes with one hand, squinting towards the direction where the bullets exploded.
The team members, already slowed by the麟粉 (Lin Fen), couldn't react to the directly incoming laser rounds. They could only stand stiffly in place.
Luo Qi didn't even know if he had seen fear in their eyes.
The laser rounds landed with precision. Three team members were instantly engulfed in flames. The fire quickly spread. Their skin, unprotected by the combat suits, was as thin and fragile as paper.
They suffered extensive burns and blast injuries. Half of their bodies were engulfed in flames, while the other half remained standing firm. Without orders to retreat, they could only endure the agony of being burned alive.
The charred smell of burning flesh spread through the air. Two lightly injured team members and two other team members showed no signs of retreating.
The麟粉 (Lin Fen) scattered significantly when exposed to the light. The speed of those team members gradually recovered. They looked at Luo Qi with solemn eyes.
With a deafening "bang," 111 flew backward, crashing through two giant trees before stopping. Dust and smoke billowed. Luo Qi anxiously flew towards that direction.
"What in the world is going on?"
Cesi's face was ashen, his unease growing. "Why haven't the cameras been repaired yet?"
After the camera that had been following Luo Qi suddenly lost its signal, more and more footage disappeared from the display screens.
Roughly counting, more than half of the surveillance systems had been destroyed or directly shut down.
If Cesi still couldn't tell that something had gone wrong, he might as well resign as the Insect King.
He couldn't bear it any longer. He stood up abruptly and sternly ordered, "Aljer, prepare the flying ship to the small planet."
This was the worst-case scenario. If it was just some unforeseen circumstances and accidents, then the Insect Race's actions would be seen as a lack of trust in the Earth's primary school. On a larger scale, it could be considered a suspicion of damaging the friendly relations between Earth and the Insect Race.
If any of the students encountered any problems, even if it had nothing to do with the Insect Race, it would be perceived by everyone in the galaxy as evidence of an attempt to disrupt interstellar peace.
But Cesi couldn't wait another second.
Even Ye Yun, standing beside him, frowned and said coldly, "This is indeed the fault of the Earth's primary school. If any problems arise, I will bear full responsibility."
The principal of the primary school stood by with a furrowed brow. Upon hearing this, he bowed slightly and said, "I understand."
Since the incident had already occurred, the only course of action was to minimize the consequences and losses.
The principal of the primary school looked at the partially dimmed screen and quietly instructed his subordinates to expedite the investigation, aiming to find the source of the problem in the shortest possible time.
However, those cameras were destroyed by technology far superior to this world's. No matter how hard his subordinates tried, they could only report that the cause was unknown.
Ye Yun turned and paused before leaving the room. After a long moment, he spoke, "The assessment is suspended. Let the remaining children evacuate as much as possible."
The principal frowned, "Does it have to go this far?"
There were still many children on the small planet. Such a rash action would inevitably alarm many people. If it turned out that nothing had happened in the end, it would be a significant loss to Earth's reputation.
Cesi's expression was so grim that Ye Mu had to consider the worst-case scenario. If Luo Qi was unharmed, it would be a happy ending. But if something happened to him, it wouldn't be something that could be overlooked with mere friendship.
He offered no explanation, only patting the principal's shoulder. "This time, just listen to me."
The principal pursed his lips, looking at his friend's solemn expression, and finally nodded. "I'll go do it right away."
"Hurry!"
On a screen that no one noticed, a young man suddenly woke up.
111 stood up from the dust and grass. Its data stream had been damaged, causing its movements to be somewhat sluggish. The hand supporting itself on the ground slipped.
Luo Qi flew over, bypassing Mo Jue and the others, and helped 111 up. It frowned, its expression pained. But Luo Qi knew that systems didn't experience "pain," so it could only be because the God Devourer had touched its core.
He exerted force, helping 111 stand upright, and asked softly, "Are you alright?"
There were many dents on 111's body, traces left by the God Devourer's attacks. The metallic luster had dimmed considerably.
It let out a laugh. "Don't worry, a defective product is just a defective product. What good is strength? Even in this state, it won't gain much from me."
Luo Qi looked at the God Devourer. It also had many dents and torn wounds. Although not as many as 111, they were still significant.
More importantly, the expression on its face kept changing, and it remained silent for a long time, as if its expression system had been damaged.
This was likely what 111 meant by "not gaining much."
The God Devourer shook its head, clenched its fist, and looked coldly at Mo Jue. "Why haven't you dealt with him yet?"
Mo Jue's face was also very grim. The laser rounds had burned half of his body earlier, but the team members who had been "granted power" by the God Devourer seemed unaffected. He was truly terrified.
A moment of laxity had given Luo Qi a chance to breathe.
He also took out his laser gun, but it was much more powerful than Luo Qi's.
He had originally intended to use his lightsaber to resolve this major threat, but now it seemed better to finish it quickly with the laser gun.
111 gently pushed Luo Qi, smiling. "Go, don't worry about me."
Luo Qi looked back at 111. Due to the earlier impact, a piece of 111's avatar was damaged, revealing the tangled cables beneath.
Those cables surged and receded, representing the data and information 111 had accumulated from its experiences in each world. The pale green fluorescence flickered, giving 111 a cold aura.
Luo Qi took a deep breath and sighed softly. "This is much more stimulating than saving a child on the street."
111 chuckled. "But if you lose your life again this time, there won't be a 111 to save you."
Luo Qi retorted without politeness, "If I dismantle your system, will I still install it for you?"
111 let out a light breath and straightened up, looking provocatively at the God Devourer opposite. "Come on, a defective product is just a defective product. I see you're nothing special!"
The God Devourer froze, then burst into laughter. "Alright!"