Chapter 029: The Rats Appear, and We Fall into a Trap!

Drone reconnaissance provided the perspective, allowing logistics personnel to make tactical arrangements based on the intelligence gathered from the field. This is the confidence that a seasoned monster-hunting squad relies on to take on a large number of monsters despite being outnumbered.

In monster-hunting missions—especially when a Mystical-rank squad like the Burning Sky Squad is fully mobilized—tasks involving the hunting of a single monster are rare, unless that monster is of a high cultivation realm or a solitary species. In other words, once the entire squad is deployed, the number of monsters faced is bound to far exceed the number of squad members.

Excluding formidable Bone-Forging Realm experts like Geng Xiao and Han Yuesu, how can one achieve victory against superior numbers? Gu Xiaoyuan had previously provided the answer: technological means can significantly compensate for a numerical disadvantage when battling Rock-Breaking Realm monsters. A rational combination of tactics can keep monsters, which lack sufficient intelligence, completely under control. Just like the two combat teams earlier, they had easily dispatched fourteen Bristle-Magic Rats.

In the communication channel, Meng Huai’s voice came through: "Looks like this mission is a breeze. These Bristle-Magic Rats, accustomed to hiding by day and prowling by night, aren't putting up much of a fight. If the intelligence from the Security Bureau is accurate, we’ve already cleared out more than half of them."

"Enough talk," Han Yuesu interrupted.

Gu Xiaoyuan, responsible for logistics, also wore a relaxed smile. Hunting monsters without sustaining any injuries was the best-case scenario.

"I have reached the designated vantage point!" Ling Xiao reported.

"Brother Ling, I’ve already scouted your front right with the drone swarm; there are definitely no traces of Bristle-Magic Rats there, but there is a blind spot on your front left," Gu Xiaoyuan said quickly.

"Understood!"

As a non-Heaven-Blessed individual, Ling Xiao possessed his own unique strengths. His exceptional eyesight made him the team's sniper. Using his "Owl-Eagle Crossbow Cannon" as a weapon allowed him to compensate for gaps in the visual field and provide long-range fire support. In the previous skirmish, he hadn’t needed this heavy weapon, using only his secondary crossbow—capable of wounding Rock-Breaking Realm monsters—to take down two rats. Now, he had to further investigate the area near the gas plant's hub.

The two combat teams were less than five hundred meters from the Fire-Bristle Magic Rat mentioned in the intel. Gu Xiaoyuan dared not send the drone swarm any closer, lest they alert the enemy. Geng Xiao continued to advance under the dual surveillance of the drone swarm and Ling Xiao.

Han Yuesu also responded: "Meng Huai and I have reached our designated positions. No suspicious targets spotted for now."

"Same here." Geng Xiao’s position was deeper into the site, making it the most dangerous. Currently, everything was normal.

"Stand by and wait for the Thunder-Gallop Squad to lead the attack on the hub!" Gu Xiaoyuan directed.

***

It seemed the small fry were cleaned up; all that remained was for the two squads to meet and take down the final boss. This time, the Burning Sky Squad was only there to assist; the primary offensive was the responsibility of the Thunder-Gallop Squad, who had taken the mission.

But was reality really that simple?

About three minutes later...

The drone feed covering the Burning Sky Squad suddenly lost a segment, and Gu Xiaoyuan sat up straight immediately.

"Something's wrong!"

Before she could maneuver other drones, the footage began to blink out in patches. By the time Gu Xiaoyuan steered the remaining drones toward the area where the others were destroyed, the sight that met her eyes made her scalp tingle!

"A large swarm of Bristle-Magic Rats is lurking in the ventilation ducts! Suspected Bone-Forging Realm rats are active!"

"Target confirmed: it's a Poison-Bristle Magic Rat! Brother Ling, watch out! A large number of rats are appearing to your front right!"

The visual feed was completely lost, leaving only the perspective of the four combatants. Ling Xiao had already opened fire, his Owl-Eagle Crossbow Cannon unleashing a barrage of arrows. Geng Xiao broke out from the flank as the rat swarm let out sharp, explosive screeches; the commotion was growing louder!

"Damn it, there’s a swarm approaching us too!" Meng Huai exclaimed.

"How many are there?" Gu Xiaoyuan asked urgently.

"Unknown for now!" Han Yuesu’s voice came through. "We need reinforcements!"

Gu Xiaoyuan immediately dropped the communication device, stood up, and donned her combat helmet.

"We request to join the fight!"

Gu Xiaoyuan turned around to see Yu Le and his companion already fully equipped in their combat suits, standing tall and ready.

Geng Xiao’s voice came through: "Request granted. Be careful, prioritize reinforcing Yuesu’s side!"

"Understood!" Gu Xiaoyuan nodded. "Follow me!"

Han Yuesu’s team had already gone silent, clearly in a dire situation. If they were in an open field, the heavy weaponry equipped on the "Burning Sky" vehicle could provide long-range support. But this mission was inside a factory; they couldn't lock onto targets, and heavy weapons were prone to causing friendly fire!

The two recruits followed Gu Xiaoyuan toward the facility. Along the way, Gu Xiaoyuan continued to operate the remaining drones, but the feed was blurry, showing only a massive number of rats swarming the factory, with occasional glimpses of Han Yuesu and Meng Huai in combat.

"Captain Han, retreat to the coordinates I’m sending! Yu Le and I are on our way!"

***

Han Yuesu didn't reply, but the drone footage showed the rat swarm shifting.

"Damn it, there’s another Bone-Forging Realm Gold-Bristle Magic Rat!" Gu Xiaoyuan’s face turned ghastly.

The two recruits looked over and saw the massive rat in the feed, standing upright and swiping its claws. Rock-Breaking Realm rats possessed no elemental attributes, but once they entered the Bone-Forging Realm, they evolved in different directions.

The ultimate target of this mission was a Fifth-Tier Bone-Forging Realm Fire-Bristle Magic Rat attempting to devour the fire-type magic core within the plant's conversion unit. The previous footage showed Geng Xiao’s team encountering a Poison-Bristle rat, and now a Gold-Bristle rat had appeared near Han Yuesu’s team, along with an unknown number of Rock-Breaking Realm rats. This was only on the east side where the Burning Sky Squad was attacking; what about the Thunder-Gallop Squad’s side?

This intelligence was catastrophically wrong!

What the Burning Sky Squad didn't know was that while their two teams were locked in a bitter struggle, the Thunder-Gallop Squad, which had attacked from the west, was facing no such intense battle. After clearing the stray rats at the entrance just like the Burning Sky Squad had, they had stopped.

"Captain Fang, this 'Rat-Repellent Incense' bought from the black market is highly effective! These rats are all terrified and running away!" Su Chi laughed.

Members of the Thunder-Gallop Squad were wearing gas masks, burning an incense that emitted a strange odor near the ventilation ducts. Combined with the ventilation system, the scent was pumped throughout the pipes.

Fang Wensheng curled his lips into a smile. "That’s 'Rat-Repellent Incense' made from the urine and feces of the Bristle-Magic Rat’s natural predator, the Red-Eyed Demon Cat, mixed with Flame-Vein Silver Dan Grass. Ordinary Bristle-Magic Rats can't stand the smell!"

"Listen to that racket. The Burning Sky Squad must be engaged with those angry rats by now," Su Chi said excitedly.

"Heh, we called them here specifically to do the dirty work. Those good-for-nothings at the Security Bureau only managed to scout the rats on the surface. But that’s perfect—we use this false intel to lure the Burning Sky Squad into a trap. They lost Mu Chao last time; I wonder who they’ll lose this time. They’re still too green to play games with my Thunder-Gallop Squad!"

Fang Wensheng’s face was twisted in a cruel, triumphant smile. Clearly, his goal wasn't just to complete the mission; it was to use someone else’s blade to kill, effectively crippling the Burning Sky Squad, which had always overshadowed them.

Bristle-Magic Rats are evil, but the human heart is even more so. Withholding information was all part of the plot to lead the Burning Sky Squad to their doom.

"Let’s go. With the Burning Sky Squad handling the trouble for us, all we have to do is take out that Fire-Bristle Magic Rat, and the mission will be finished."

"Haha, then let's leave the hard work to those idiots."