Chapter 322: The Ruin City is on its way.
“This is the ‘Mobile Fortress’ Ruin City, huh? It’s truly… shocking.”
The old team has left, and a new one arrives.
The team captain holds up his telescope, inspecting the Strike Dragon Guns mounted on Ruin City and the cannons on the upper platform.
The existence of the Queen Mantis hasn’t been officially disclosed to the public yet, but the exaggerated achievements of the Chief Hunter Squad have already spread within the hunter community.
Fighting against the Old Mountain Dragon atop the Queen Mantis Ruin City, how heart-pounding it must be! Hunters can’t help but yearn to board the Ruin City.
But that’s impossible; they don’t have the high clearance like the elite squads. Their mission is merely observation—there’s no justification or reason for rash advances.
“I heard the Chief was reassigned to participate in another Queen Mantis extermination.”
“Hmm, our observation mission will probably last as long as their operation takes.”
The captain nods.
Until they gather complete intel on the Queen Mantis, the Guild won’t stop observing the current individual.
Once they successfully slay the Queen Mantis, her corpse will undoubtedly satisfy the Guild’s research needs efficiently, allowing them to conclude the surveillance of the remaining Queen Mantises.
“I kinda hope the mission doesn’t end too soon.”
One member sighs wistfully.
After all, following the Ruin City for observations is quite an easy task. They’ve even heard it’s interesting to spy on how the Queen Mantis builds the Ruin City.
“Something seems off.”
“What is it?”
“According to the estimated route map, we should’ve reached behind Ruin City by now, and continued tracking it from there. But instead, we’re ahead of its path.”
The map is spread out on the ground, and the investigation team captain squats down, gesturing over it with his fingers.
“Captain, is your compass broken?”
A member standing at another angle looks at the map, twists his neck, then moves behind the captain, pulling out his own compass to check, glancing between it and the Ruin City.
“Yeah, indeed. It seems to be heading back toward where we came from. It’s probably just wandering aimlessly.”
“Take cover, let it pass.”
The group finds a hidden spot to hide, feeling the vibrations on the ground growing stronger.
Ruin City’s lifted front legs fall before their eyes, its heavy tail dragging past and blocking their line of sight, plowing deep grooves into the ground.
Metallic clashing sounds echo as bits of rubble and soil crumble and fall.
“Let’s catch up.”
Ruin City is merely returning. There isn’t enough information yet to report anything significant.
They’ve only just caught up with Ruin City…
—
Ruin City is moving in the direction of the Flying Airship.
However, ordinary hunters cannot visually detect the Ancient Dragon Observation Ship, so they fail to realize this fact.
When they report the change in Ruin City’s direction, the message will take some time to reach Dongduoluma, and then more time to get to the Flying Airship.
Upon comparing the flight path of the airship with Ruin City’s course, scholars aboard the Flying Airship finally realize Ruin City is chasing the airship.
By this point, the airship is already near the Queen Mantis extermination site, and the Guild personnel are ready, waiting only for four top-tier hunters to be air-dropped.
“So the Queen Mantis leads a social structure among mantises? The true controller and resident of Ruin City is the Queen.”
As they approach the frontline drop-off point, the top hunters are reading intelligence gathered from the Queen Mantis.
“And the one we’ve been tracking all along… compared with others, it turns out to be male?”
Kempe lets out an astonished sound, instantly brainstorming an incredible story.
Love and hatred within the clan, a young male mantis suffering during mating rituals when it counter-attacks and eats the Queen Mantis, then gets expelled from the clan, taking sole control of Ruin City.
“Not enough sightings of other Queen Mantis clans yet, but judging from common sense, female insects reign supreme. I’d prefer if this male mantis were just an exception.”
As they near the frontline, the veil of mystery surrounding the Queen Mantis is gradually being lifted. The supervisor, who rarely relaxes, joins the hunters in discussion.
“It’s indeed an exception.”
Katana Warrior quietly speaks up.
The Queen Mantis has already shown threats towards human settlements, while the male mantis has been dismantling obstructive fortresses along the way, collecting junk everywhere else.
“His size surpasses all individuals in this tribe, and his golden color is even more brilliant. If we call the leader of Ruin City ‘Queen,’ then he is undoubtedly the King.”
“Tat, tat, tat tat tat.”
A hurried set of footsteps interrupts their conversation. A scholar appears, looking anxious.
“What is it?”
The supervisor raises his hand, signaling the young scholar to calm down.
The scholar looks at the hunters, then the supervisor, deciding to speak directly:
“The male mantis is here. Two pieces of intelligence just arrived—one about the change in Ruin City’s route, and the other from the forward sentries spotting the male mantis’ Ruin City.”
“What?!”
The usually composed supervisor glances at Kempe, signaling him not to panic. Both sets of intelligence are laid out on the table.
The first report came from the team observing Ruin City, delayed but still indicating overlap between the airship and Ruin City’s routes.
“It’s chasing the airship? No, it’s more likely the airship’s route overlaps with its search for a mate.”
The second piece of information is much simpler and direct. Frontline sentries spotted the male mantis’ Ruin City approaching the Queen’s Ruin City.
The discovery of Ruin City means it’s very close to the frontline.
“Bad news.”
“Can the frontline hunters retreat?”
Kempe immediately makes the most correct judgment in the moment.
Another Ruin City intrudes into the battlefield designated for the Queen’s Ruin City. They’ve just found out and aren’t prepared to face two Ruin Cities.
The supervisor shakes his head.
This judgment isn’t wrong, but he believes elite hunters should still enter the battlefield.
Retreat happens during the fight.
“Large-scale troop movements have already drawn attention from the Queen Mantis clan. Collisions have been happening these past few days.”
A hunter nearby adds.
“Hmm, regardless, you need to bring this information to the battlefield for decision-making.”
The battle had already begun, though the core part has been waiting for the elite hunters.
“Alright, let’s go.”
The hunters show no hesitation, casting one last glance at the scenery outside the porthole before leaving.
They’ve arrived at the abandoned fortress designated as the battlefield. The Queen’s Ruin City rests silently in the center of the fortress.
At the edges of the fortress, many hunters guard the perimeter, keeping monsters away, forming a protective circle awaiting their arrival.
It’s their honor.
The Flying Airship descends, and the four hunters hanging from the rope ladder see the enormous creature peeking over the hilltop.
Another Ruin City is approaching, about to arrive at the battlefield.
Judging the height, the hunters leap off the rope ladder.
An orange signal flare explodes in the sky, signifying “Reinforcements Arrived.”
—
Chapter 323
