212 The job is done, isn’t that enough?

He just gave him a side glance and replied, “Captain, do you really want to know every detail? Because I think I am too exhausted for that. The job is done, isn’t that enough?”

Evan licked his bottom lip feeling a little embarrassed. Seeing that he didn’t respond Zi Han took a step planning to walk away but his arm was suddenly caught. The grasp was light but Zi Han still felt irritable.

“Thank you,” said Evan before letting him go.

Zi Han nodded his head and walked away.

Such an arduous journey had just begun. For the next three days, this group lost a total of seven people bringing the total number of people left in the team to ten.

On the plus side, they had managed to retrieve sixteen more devices. That’s because from their previous experience they had managed to adapt. Plus as they went deeper into the forest most of the devices were buried and some submerged in shallow pools and streams. With fewer predators on the prowess, they were thriving.

But things seemed to change on the third night when their winning streak seemed to have come to an end. On that night Zi Han was taking watch atop a tall tree with his sniper rifle.

For the past few days, he had felt like he was being watched. When he tried to investigate he had only caught that little blue Nimsel watching him in the trees.

Whenever he caught it following him it would hide behind a leaf while peeking at him. Several times Zi Han would give it some dried fruit and it would run away happily.

historical

.....

Each time he would say, “This is the last time?” but the next time he would give in to those pitiful doe eyes.

He knew it was the Nimsel watching him half the time but he still couldn’t shake the feeling that something big was up. It was because of his strong intuition that he was extra vigilant.

He didn’t separate from the group and when it was his turn to take watch he would have his sniper rifle out at all times scouting.

Just like all the other nights he sat there in total silence watching and waiting. He didn’t know when the person or thing would take action but he was more than prepared for it.

While he was scouting a familiar face fell into his view. It was Agial. She was inside her mech and because the top of the tree was way up she had to hover above the ground.

Zi Han withdrew his eye from the scope before asking, “What’s up?”

Agial opened the window shield of her mech and said, “I... we made some lotus root and pork soup. I thought you would like some so I brought it over,” she shyly said with her cheeks turning pink.

Zi Han didn’t want to take it but it was so cold and he needed something warm. He knew he shouldn’t accept it as it would give her misconstrued concepts but..... it was steaming hot and very tempting.

Agial could feel his reluctance dampening her mood. It was just a bowl of soup that’s all. Why did he have to act like she was force-feeding him a love potion?

Agial opened her mouth to say, “It’s just a bowl of soup. There is no other meaning. I know....”

She didn’t get to finish her words when Zi Han raised his finger to shush her. Thinking he was just being rude she wanted to express her anger when she also heard a sound.

Zi Han stood up with his body balancing on the thin brunch. He looked through the scope and searched where the commotion was coming from.

When he spotted the moving trees and bushes he swore, “Shit,” before turning to the team chat.

“Um, captain. Do you still remember that mauve creature I mentioned a few days ago?” he said and Evan promptly responded,

“Yah.... what’s up?”

“I think the herd found us and they are hundreds of them,” replied Zi Han before turning to Agial, “We need to get back.”

Agial bit her lower lip and threw away the bowl of soup before closing the windscreen of her mech and flying to camp.

Zi Han was about to get down and follow when he spotted a dark shadowy figure at the back of the herd. That’s when he realized that this wasn’t an accident. Someone deliberately drove the herd towards them. Since the person had shown their hand he naturally had to respond.

Zi Han snorted before leaping off the tree. As he approached the ground at an accelerated rate his mech enveloped his body and he flew up again in the person’s direction.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!

A series of explosives were fired on the ground barely missing the figure by an inch. The man was sent flying but because his skills went above and beyond the military, he quickly recovered. He spun his body around and fired a needle-sized pin laced with poison toward Zi Han.

He had deliberately upped the dosage intending to take Zi Han down immediately. The sharp pin tore through his mech and struck Zi Han squarely on the neck.

Zi Han’s mental power stalled disengaging from the mech and before he knew it his mech returned back to its pendant. His body fell to the ground and with a loud bam, he slammed against the hard soil.

Zi Han heard something crack in his body but he could care less right now. He drew his handgun and fired a series of shots at the figure through the dusty cloud.

A luminous blue shield appeared in the darkness defending against the bullets raining down on him. He had to say this kid had really good aim. The man dashed over and kicked the handgun out of Zi Han’s hand.

Zi Han’s eyes widened as he rolled over and got up to his feet. Before he could collect himself the man swung his fist at him.

Zi Han immediately blocked his attack while simultaneously striking back but this person was unmovable like a boulder. Instead, his body was pushed back by the explosive force.

Zi Han steadied himself and glared at the man with a vicious gaze straight out of the center of hell. With a slight quirk at the corner of his lips, he stood upright sending shivers down the man’s spine.

He knew that Zi Han was a mere B rank and because of the poisonous substance circulating in his body it was only a matter of time until Zi Han was nothing but a regular powerless vessel. Despite all this, he was still very much afraid and he didn’t know why.

Author’s Note: Yep, he should be scared shitless. Just saying.