A roar erupted from within Ryan's armor, a mixture of post-survival fervor and incited bloodlust. The elemental projector on his arm unleashed a pillar of fire—a furious whip of flame—that completely engulfed the face of the Ash Scorpipede that had ambushed him.
"Bang!"
Almost simultaneously, a muffled yet powerful gunshot rang out, distinct from a standard-issue rifle.
Shen Kai saw that Captain Gestalt had arrived. Moving with calm judgment at high speed, he fired a single, precise shot from his modified rifle, hitting an Ash Scorpipede attempting to charge Ryan from the front. The bullet struck the relatively weak joint in the carapace between its multiple compound eyes. A shower of energy sparks erupted, effectively halting its assault.
"All units, hold steady!"
Gestalt's calm command cut through the communication channel.
"Focus fire on the monsters' compound eyes and leg joints!"
"Those are their weak points!"
The order came through loud and clear to Shen Kai. But, almost instantaneously, his "Colorless Core," hyper-activated by the battle, provided him with a more precise "answer."
In his perceptual field, a faint, dark marker representing "structural vulnerability" flashed at the fragile joint of the second and third legs on the right side of the Ash Scorpipede tangling with Gestalt.
Without thinking, his body reacted. Shen Kai subconsciously adjusted his aim. Three high-energy polymer rounds, fired from a difficult angle, tore through the vulnerable node almost simultaneously.
"Scree—!"
The giant scorpion let out a piercing shriek as its massive body crashed to the ground, losing its balance.
"Ryan! Now! Focus fire on the downed one!"
Gestalt seized the opportunity and immediately gave the order.
Ryan was about to use the elemental projector on his "Reinforced Sentinel" interface to finish off the downed scorpipede when he noticed a brief overload warning on the interface's energy output system. This was the result of the earlier hit that had forced the core to overwork. The flamethrower failed to activate immediately.
"Dammit!"
Ryan cursed under his breath, forced to use his rifle's physical bullets for suppressive fire instead.
Meanwhile, Nadeshiko was trying to hit the compound eyes of another scorpipede that was attempting a flanking maneuver with precise, short bursts. However, her rate of fire and power were insufficient to stop the enraged monster completely; several venomous stingers grazed her cover.
Suddenly, a slight, sharp pain pulsed from Shen Kai's "Colorless Core" again. In his "vision," a new, incredibly glaring "danger marker" lit up.
Though the Ash Scorpipede's main body was incapacitated on the ground, its stinger, glowing with a dim red light, rose silently and insidiously like a venomous snake. It locked onto Ryan, who was focused on firing with his back turned.
"Ryan! Watch the downed one behind you!"
"The tail!"
Shen Kai's voice sounded urgent for the first time in the squad channel. He didn't have time to explain further. Acting on instinct, his AR-18 fired several bursts at the raised scorpion tail.
The energy rounds whistled past the shoulder plate of Ryan's "Reinforced Sentinel" interface. They didn't directly hit the tip of the stinger, but they successfully disrupted its attack trajectory. The poisoned barb sliced through the air in a bizarre arc, narrowly missing the edge of Ryan's helmet. It stabbed deep into the ground, splashing up a patch of scorched earth.
Ryan broke out in a cold sweat from the sudden warning and attack. He whipped his head around and saw the lethal scorpion tail that had landed almost against his back. In the distance, he saw Shen Kai's calm posture and raised rifle. A complex mix of feelings churned within him.
"Good work! Squad synergy!"
"Keep this rhythm!"
Gestalt's voice rang out again, tinged with a hint of relief.
With Gestalt's calm command, Ryan's steady frontal assault, Nadeshiko's precise support, and Shen Kai's coordination—he was like a battlefield specter, always providing critical warnings and accurate covering fire—the remaining Ash Scorpipedes were quickly eliminated one by one.
The charred, smoking husks of several giant scorpions lay scattered on the battlefield. The air was thick with the acrid smell of burning and the cloyingly sweet scent of the monsters' blood.
"Huff... huff... damn..."
"Finally... over..."
Ryan gasped for breath and deactivated the "Reinforced Sentinel" interface, which had begun flashing a low-energy warning. His combat suit was soaked in sweat and grime.
"If you hadn't been lucky, you'd be a corpse being dragged back to their nest for dinner,"
Gestalt said, walking up to Ryan. His face was as dark as the alloy dome of Bedrock City.
"Who gave you permission to open fire?!"
"Who told you to activate the 'interface' without absolute necessity?!"
Ryan stiffened, wanting to argue. But under Gestalt's cold, sharp gaze, he eventually and reluctantly bowed his head.
"Yes, Captain. My mistake."
He secretly glanced at Shen Kai, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
Nadeshiko hurried forward and pulled a disinfectant spray and healing gel from her medical kit. She began to treat Ryan's wounds.
Shen Kai stood silently to the side, watching. He felt no excitement from his first monster kill nor any relief from having survived. His mind was still filled with the lingering "core whispers."
During the battle, when he concentrated, the "markers" and "warnings" from the "Colorless Core" became more structured. They were no longer just noise; they were some kind of analyzable, complex stream of information containing warnings and temptations.
The "Colorless Core" in his chest seemed to be actively absorbing and analyzing the dissipated energy, the aura of death, and the fragmented core information from the battlefield.
He felt that his "Colorless Core" had grown slightly during the fight. This sent an inexplicable, bone-deep chill through him.