Qin Zheng controlled the PS-01, standing beside Luo Qingning's SC4-01, and looked at the detector in the mecha's hand:
"Special Gene Activation Rate 69%."
Still the same value, this time there was no change!
Previously, based on the activation rate feedback from the Swarm, they easily confirmed which direction to move in, and the activation rate would increase.
The further west they went, the higher the gene activation rate.
However, this situation only lasted until 40 minutes ago. At a point 240 kilometers from the airfield, the gene activation rate had already reached 69%.
They continued westward for another 30 kilometers, but it was still 69%.
The team fell silent, everyone waiting for Luo Qingning's decision.
Cangjie SC4-01: "Advance another 20 kilometers and test again. If the data still doesn't change, we'll return."
QJ3-01 (Red·Commander): "Received. Gentlemen, adjust your formation and prepare to move out."
Qin Zheng piloted the PS-01 back to the right side of the team, maintaining his breathing rhythm, and slowly followed the team forward.
The team's pace was not fast, and the long action had left everyone somewhat fatigued.
However, after a while, Zhu Fugui stopped, as the radar interface of the mecha system showed a large and dense cluster of biological signals ahead.
This time, the red dots on the map were no longer in a small area but spread out, densely covering all the space in front of them!
QJ3-01 (Red·Commander): "Stop! Maintain a safe distance, everyone, turn to the right and advance."
Everyone moved along the edge of the red dots, trying to bypass this Swarm.
However, after advancing for 5 minutes, they were horrified to find that the biological red dots on the radar were still dense, with no end in sight.
Qin Zheng furrowed his brows and said in the communication channel:
"Something's not right, Old Zhu, have you encountered this situation before?"
HS2-01: "No... no, I've never encountered anything like this! Commander, this isn't right! It's very wrong!"
QJ3-01 (Red·Commander): "Stop, stay alert, and reposition ourselves relative to Bluebird!"
Everyone immediately halted, staying alert on the spot while trying to contact the transport ship at the airfield.
Qin Zheng kept a close eye on the distant wasteland and the red dots on the radar. If the system's stated mission difficulty was true, he felt the problem likely lay here.
The atmosphere was tense, and just then, a text suddenly appeared in the communication channel:
MT3-01: "Why do I feel like these red dots are getting closer to us?"
At that moment, a sudden change occurred!
The grenade launcher unit of QJ3-02 suddenly opened, and a grenade was launched out of nowhere!
QJ3-01 (Red·Commander): "Xiao Jia! What are you doing?"
QJ3-02: "I... I don't know, I didn't even move!"
Everyone watched as the grenade traced an arc in the air, heading towards the Swarm not far away.
Qin Zheng was the first to react, shouting in the channel:
"Run!"
Zhu Fugui and the others instantly reacted, activating their mechas and sprinting towards the airfield!
The Commander piloting the Red Qianji reacted just as quickly, retreating with Luo Qingning while saying in the channel:
"Everyone maintain formation, retreat in an orderly fashion in the opposite direction of the Swarm, I'm contacting the transport ship..."
"Boom!"
Behind them, the grenade cannon exploded!
Immediately following, the piercing sound of insect screeches filled the air, clearly reaching everyone's ears even from hundreds of meters away.
Qin Zheng couldn't help but glance back.
He saw a black line suddenly appear on the distant wasteland, stretching endlessly in both directions!
As he kept an eye on the Swarm behind him, all the weapon units of the QJ3-02 in the team suddenly opened!
The next moment, a torrent of firepower was directed at the Swarm behind them!
And behind QJ3-02, there wasn't just the Swarm, but also the Combat Engineer GC2-01 piloted by the Ruan Brothers!
"Watch out!"
A barrage of bullets instantly covered the position of the Combat Engineer GC2-01.
The Ruan Brothers reacted quickly, and an alloy plate on the chest of the mecha suddenly thrust forward, beginning to spin at high speed.
It was like a high-speed rotating shield, deflecting the armor-piercing rounds in all directions, sparks flying.
The Combat Engineer GC2-01 simultaneously moved quickly to the side, trying to evade QJ3-02's line of fire.
QJ3-01 (Red·Commander): "Xiao Jia! Immediately leave the team!"
QJ3-02: "Captain! I didn't mean it! My control unit isn't responding at all!"
QJ3-01 (Red·Commander): "Leave the team immediately, return after you've exhausted your ammunition, we'll pick you up when the transport ship arrives."
QJ3-02: "No! Captain! Don't leave me!"
The pilot of QJ3-02 was in extreme distress, clearly not believing the captain would return for him after he ran out of ammunition.
However, the Commander was far more decisive than he imagined. The weapon unit of the Red Qianji instantly lifted, aiming at the nearby QJ3-02.
QJ3-01 (Red·Commander): "First warning!"
QJ3-02: "No! You can't do this!"
QJ3-01 (Red·Commander): "Second warning!"
QJ3-02: "I'm going... I'm leaving right now! Captain! Don't shoot!"
QJ3-02 staggered back to the right side of the team, where Qin Zheng happened to be.
Seeing the Qianji Mk III retreating, Qin Zheng, out of caution, directly drew the Ship-Cleaving Blade from the back of the PS-01!
QJ3-02, who initially had some mischievous intentions, was frightened by the sight of the Ship-Cleaving Blade and hurriedly controlled the movement joystick, obediently retreating to the right.
At this moment, a large number of Swarm had already burst from the ground, charging straight at them!
Since QJ3-02 had been attacking the Swarm, the insects at the forefront were all pursuing in QJ3-02's direction, which was also why QJ3-02 was reluctant to leave the team.
As QJ3-02 gradually left the team, the nearest pursuing insects were also drawn away from the team's retreat direction.
Everyone who had been observing the situation breathed a sigh of relief, but just then, the one who had first provoked Qin Zheng, MT3-02, suddenly charged at Luo Qingning's Cangjie SC4-01!
Damn! This guy really is a problem!
Everything was just as Qin Zheng initially suspected, this Shieldmount was trouble!
But at this moment, MT3-02 was too close to Luo Qingning, and the people around couldn't rescue her in time.
Just then, Luo Qingning's Cangjie SC4-01 suddenly sidestepped three steps, instantly widening the distance from MT3-02.
Seeing that Cangjie SC4-01 had already moved to a safe distance, the other Shieldmount MT3-01 beside it suddenly moved, its massive Blast Shield slamming towards Cangjie SC4-01!
Following on the right side of the team, Qin Zheng, who was always watching Luo Qingning's movements, felt his eyelid twitch.
This woman, what kind of teammates did she bring along?
In the entire squad, apart from her, three out of the remaining four had issues!
Looking at it this way, it seemed that they, the mercenaries temporarily hired, were the most reliable ones.