Cosmic Demon

Chapter 253 Human-Faced Spider Demon Descendant, You Have Been Marked!
Are you a 'cow' or a 'horse'?

Qin Shi sheathed his sword and turned around. With the [Insight] achievement in effect, the short-haired woman possessed neither high value nor any otherworldly aura.

"Ahem, I'm the captain, and I'm 'unlucky'."

The short-haired woman introduced herself, worried that her boss might get carried away and kill her too.

This kind of thing has happened before; most of the support team's clients come from prominent families and wealthy clans.

Those extravagant, life-loving tycoons are rarely normal people.

For example, the Ying family was known in Dongxia for their astonishing "sowing obsession," and both men and women in the family had rather chaotic private lives.

Among the first-order heirs of this generation, there is also a man named Yingmi who enjoys taking male concubines.

His unrestrained and reckless style made even the young masters of the capital feel ashamed.

As for the rumor that he was "ruthless enough to even kill his own people," it originated from the Yang family of Hongzhou.

Whether they inherited Yang Shuai's love for armored warfare and his fierce style of personally leading the charge, the Yang family members admire martial arts and are extremely valiant.

Every year, a grand "Four Seasons Hunt" is held to select the best among the tribe.

It is said that many members of the Yang family would go berserk after fighting bloody battles, displaying terrifying combat power.

He once had a dark history in the "mercenary world" where he not only slashed the enemy like vegetables, but also severely damaged all his teammates.

This led to the Yang family members being listed as the most unpopular customers.

"How did you sneak in? This is a martial law zone. Apart from the warriors of Poplar Fortress and 'servants' with passes, no one else can get in."

Qin Shi slowly approached and asked curiously.

He had previously wondered how Yinghuang could guarantee that the support team could provide timely supplies and assistance.

That's on the front lines where the situation is chaotic!

"We are affiliated with Xuyang Heavy Industry."

The short-haired woman held her breath, even though the boy in front of her had bright eyes and sparse eyebrows, and seemed sunny and approachable.

But witnessing the opponent just draw their sword and kill numerous void beasts, clearing the area in less than a few seconds.

The short-haired woman could hardly mistake him for a "harmless underage high school student".

That sense of danger was about to overflow from her heart!

"Xuyang Heavy Industry is a defense contractor recognized by the military and frequently participates in the deployment of combat groups."

Therefore, its employees generally have valid permits to enter and exit the battlefield.

I'm P9 at Xuyang Heavy Industry! Boss!

Qin Shi nodded, a look of sudden realization on his face.

Lin Yunqing had explained to him the job distinctions within super conglomerates and giant corporations.

Generally speaking, they are mainly divided into "technical positions" and "management positions".

Newly recruited graduates typically fall into the P4 (junior engineer) or P5 (intermediate engineer) level.

It takes three to five years of accumulated work experience to have the opportunity to be promoted to P6 (Senior Engineer).

As for the "P9" mentioned by the short-haired woman, it refers to a "senior expert," who is a core member of the company.

One must have personally participated in several large-scale projects and performed exceptionally well in order to be promoted.

Judging from the short-haired woman's age, she was at most around twenty-five or twenty-six, yet she held a stable position as a P9 employee at Xuyang Heavy Industry.

Qin Shi narrowed his eyes. There were only two possibilities: the other party was either very strong or had a powerful backer.

"And her? Through psychic means?"

Qin Shi raised his chin and looked at the blindfolded watermelon-headed boy.

"Code name 'Ama,' reporting for duty!"

Upon hearing the sound, Xiguatou immediately stood up straight, causing her chest to tremble violently. Her exaggeratedly proud curves made Qin Shi unable to resist lingering his gaze for a couple more seconds.

Although both are psionic pathways, Teacher Lin is far inferior, possessing only a pair of long legs.

"Ama is a P8 (senior expert), a graduate of the Southwest Union's Department of Psionics, and her idol is your senior, Ms. Yu Weiwei."

The short-haired woman quickly introduced herself:

"Their specializations are 'Analysis' and 'Resonance.' They can apply a mental link, allowing them to share senses and capture the exact presence of enemy units for analysis."

A common career path for those with a psionic ability is "strategic intelligence officer"!
Qin Shi nodded, his gaze returning to the short-haired woman.

The latter quickly revealed the details:
"I am an assault soldier with the trait 'Divine Might,' which temporarily increases my health and enhances my combat capabilities. The longer I fight the enemy, the more flaws and weaknesses I can discover."

Qin Shi raised an eyebrow, a hint of interest in his eyes.

Short hair is indeed a rare feature in women.

In martial arts, an important criterion for measuring the combat prowess of both sides is the so-called "combat talent."

In a life-or-death struggle, the side with the higher vitality value is not necessarily more likely to win.

The understanding of inheritance, the tempering of the mortal body, and the grasp of combat opportunities... are determined by a series of factors.

The short-haired woman's "divine" ability allows her to automatically detect the weaknesses and flaws of powerful enemies based on the duration of the fight.

How is this any different from cheating?!
Qin Shi inwardly protested and expressed strong condemnation!
No wonder Jiang Shijie of the Seventh Battle Group's Wind Scythe Sequence Army looked incredulous and doubtful when he learned that his characteristic was "Amplification".

Compared to the "mechanical characteristics" of short-haired women, the amplification effect is indeed unremarkable and seems rather ordinary.

"You came just in time."

After learning about the support team, Qin Shi smiled and said:
“There are quite a few pollution samples from this substation; I can’t carry them all by myself.”

Will I become a handbag carrier?
The short-haired woman gritted her teeth, wanting to shout back that she was a senior expert at Xuyang Heavy Industry, who had seen all kinds of storms and had killed all kinds of creatures!

How could I accept being a human backpack!
"how?"

Qin Shi gave him a strange look.

"Okay, boss! I've never missed a physical fitness test since I was a kid, weighted cross-country running is a piece of cake!"

The short-haired woman quickly put away her twin swords, took the initiative to carry the tactical backpack, and, following Qin Shi's instructions, packed the high-value contamination samples.

……

……

"The energy response at the substation has disappeared."

In the heart of the contaminated area, there is a neat and uniform cluster of buildings, the most eye-catching of which is the administrative building.

Atop it hangs a golden vertical pupil, brimming with distortion and chaos, like a colossal lighthouse illuminating an area spanning hundreds of miles.

That's the projection of the Chaos Demon in the material world!

"Have rats sneaked into the outer area again? It must be the exploration team from Poplar Fortress City."

The golden vertical pupil flashed, conveying a vast consciousness. The already unstable spatial structure was almost shattered by the mental storm.

It was as if a giant python was gliding through a narrow cave, its scales scraping against the soil and rocks, making the entire material world teeter on the verge of collapse and disintegration.

"Let the henchmen on the outer defense line be dealt with. Letting their own kind kill each other will please the Great One."

The hunched figure of the administration building lay prostrate on the ground, like a mollusk with its spine removed, draped in a magnificent black robe, listening to the "instructions" of the golden vertical pupils.

Only the creatures that serve as "priests" can withstand the mental storms of the Great Demon and comprehend its meaning.

"As ordered!"

Inside the conference room of the administration building, everyone clearly heard the high priest's order, and they all stopped what they were doing.

The oval table, which could seat more than a dozen people, was used to display several flesh-and-blood bodies as if they were food.

If you look closely, you'll see that they are living human beings, seemingly dead, with pain and fear still frozen on their faces.

The limbs and organs showed varying degrees of gnaw marks, with only the head and heart remaining intact.

Clearly, a normal "meal" is taking place here. "These veterans taste terrible."

One of the humanoid attendants grinned and said.

"I need fresh blood, fresh life."

These creatures, corrupted by chaos, have humanoid forms, but their skin is covered with fine, hard bristles, and beneath their wide robes are several pairs of segmented limbs.

"Pombel, you want to hunt again? You need to restrain yourself! The priest said that the war is still within a controllable range, and we cannot take the initiative to escalate the intensity."

Continuing the stalemate with humanity will be beneficial to us.

Moreover, tonight is the night of the Black Moon, and the nest is hatching a large number of leaders; you should accept the blessing.

The "elder" who was engrossed in enjoying a fresh, tender heart spoke up.

Compared to Pompeii's youthful body, the old man's face was more aged, and his vitality was weaker.

Like a meticulously prepared foie gras being bitten open, the essence contained in the blood flows into the body, and the old man, like a decaying tree being nourished by sweet rain, reveals an expression of intoxication.

"Humans are very cunning. They are accustomed to luring and murdering our elites with bait before the full display is even completed."

They call it 'fishing.' Pompeii, you have a bright future ahead of you; you need to be cautious."

Standing two meters tall, Pompeii, like a figure clad in black armor, wielded his four pairs of limbs, sharp as knives, tearing through the void and shredding the "dinner" to shreds.

"No! Uncle, I crave to kill humans with my own hands and hear their cries, rather than sitting in my office waiting for food to be served. That's too boring!"

I'll be back before the nest spawns!

Pompeii folded up his four pairs of arthropods, which retracted into his body like slender, sharp swords, and his loose robes, like a cloak, covered his outward features that made him different from humans.

The old man fell silent. The human-faced spider was considered mid-ranking in the hierarchy of the family. They were born with more than thirty life points and constantly molted by eating.

The more powerful the "food," the more it can evolve.

Pompeii is a rising star among the Spider-Man race, having already passed the professional stage, and his future achievements are limitless.

"In this war, we are destined to become the nourishment for a new generation."

Humans use us as training grounds, and so do we.

Only through constant fighting and struggle can stronger overlords emerge, becoming the apex predators of the food chain.

The old man chewed on the tender meat, letting out a dry, hoarse laugh.

The others echoed this sentiment and began to eat voraciously, as if it were their last meal before they died.

……

……

"Clearance complete."

Qin Shi let out a long breath, and the scalding heat was released through the opening and closing of his pores, steaming into long, silky strands that swirled around him.

The perfect-grade electric shock saber, now sheathed in black, also emitted a joyful sound, as if it had eaten its fill and was extremely satisfied.

"Xiao Gao, Xiao Zhao can come in now."

Qin Shi contacted Gao Pao and Zhao Su, who were on high alert and on the lookout, through the mental link of the watermelon-headed Ama.

"Brother Qin, is it really you?"

The two were startled when they suddenly heard Qin Shi's voice, thinking they had been severely contaminated.

"Okay. Let's meet at the entrance, collect the contaminated samples, and then head to the next stop."

Qin Shi was still not satisfied. Perhaps because he was being watched by the Celestial Being, his life force circulated more and more rapidly as he killed the young Void Beast.

Boo!
It's like a bubble being popped, completely breaking through the third dimension.

Once the crystalline stage of the mortal body is completely stabilized, every inch of flesh and blood becomes like jade, radiating a lustrous sheen.

This transformation, from the inside out, gradually shed the "mortal" form, making Qin Shi seem like an "ancient immortal" who stepped out of mythology.

"team leader."

Although the blindfolded watermelon-headed woman couldn't see Qin Shi, she could sense that the spiritual radiance emanating from this young boss was so intense that it was almost impossible to look directly at him.

Does the boss really need 'backup' support?

Watermelon-headed Ama really wanted to take off his blindfold and see if the young boss had three heads and six arms.

She had worked at Xuyang Heavy Industry for many years and had never encountered an employer like this before.

"Ama, cleaning up the battlefield is also a very important task."

We cannot underestimate the importance of logistics!

The short-haired woman, carrying a bulging tactical backpack in both hands, spoke with a firm and resolute tone.

At the entrance of the substation, Gao Pao and Zhao Su were dumbfounded when they saw the two "protectors" behind Qin Shi.

Where did these two girls come from?
One is a cute, youthful-looking girl with a domineering figure; the other is a long-legged, mature woman with an alluring waist.

"The support team hired by the family is compliant and legal, and has the necessary credentials."

Qin Shi briefly introduced the two sides, then asked Gao Pao for two cans of energy liquid, gulped them down, and used them to replenish his depleted energy.

"Brother Qin is indeed a direct descendant of a powerful family!"

Gao Pao and Zhao Su exchanged a glance, confirming once again that Qin Shi's background was extraordinary, as he could even afford an extremely expensive support team.

He might be the first in line to inherit the family business, the "eldest son" who will take over in the future!
"Boss, the second wave of the Black Moon tide is coming."

The blindfolded watermelon-headed boy had his eyebrows furrowed tightly, as if he were in some pain.

She sensed that the tremors caused by the enormous black moon hanging in the sky were becoming increasingly violent.

An invisible force pulls at the terrifying energy flow, spreading a distorted and chaotic radiance to every corner.

"It's 15 kilometers from the outpost. You can rest here."

The greatest impact of contaminated areas on normal humans is not the harassment from their companions, but rather the deeper they go, the greater the overlap with the Netherworld, and thus, they become subject to erosion and influence.

"There's no need to worry about the beast tide on the night of the Black Moon."

Qin Shi planted the perfect-grade electric shock saber in the ground and said calmly:
"Rest and recuperate on the spot to avoid overexertion of the body or spirit."

As a P9 from Xuyang Heavy Industry, the short-haired woman originally wanted to suggest to Qin Shi that they should head straight to the outpost base, complete the sample collection, and return home as soon as possible.

But the boy with the knife standing there inexplicably gave people a strong sense of security.

After about a 20-minute rest, both the Niu Ma team and Zhao Su in his high robe were in top form.

Qin Shi took the lead and headed straight for the outpost.

They encountered no obstacles along the way, only a few low-level companion creatures, which were dealt with by the courageous Gao Pao and Zhao Su.

But when everyone arrived at the outpost, Qin Shi suddenly stopped, and then the blindfolded watermelon-headed Ama showed a look of fear.

"Danger! It's a demon!"

As she cried out in alarm, the dark clouds hanging low over the fields moved in, and a rolling bolt of black lightning shot out and crashed to the ground!

A deafening roar, like thunder, echoed wildly, assaulting everyone's eardrums!

Amidst the swirling dust, Pompeii, nearly two meters tall and resembling a figure clad in black armor, slowly emerged, his silhouette gradually becoming clearer from the shadows.

Its handsome face suddenly opened several compound eyes, staring intently at the short-haired woman behind Qin Shi.

"Didn't anyone realize that I'm the strongest in the team?"

As always, Qin Shi inserted his sword into the ground and gripped the dark red hilt.

"Xiao Gao, does the operations manual say that this kind of dependents are more valuable?"

he asked.

(End of this chapter)