Chapter 327: The Mantid Axe.
Jié Jié lifted the hatch beneath the cockpit, silk threads shooting out to stick onto the fallen armor of the Ruin City of the Queen Mantis, draping it over his own Ruin City.
Repairing the joints was more complex. Jie climbed up the leg, knocking and fixing with silk threads wrapped around, barely restoring mobility.
Looking at the Queen Mantis and the hunters, the red-eyed Queen ignored him, clearly seeing the hunters as the main culprits for the disabled Ruin City. Each cannon shot caused far more damage than any city-to-city combat.
The hunters were wary of him during their dodges but soon found themselves overwhelmed by the Queen’s storm-like attacks, unable to focus on anything else.
Jié Jié buried most of his body into the damaged part of the Ruin City, avoiding becoming a blood pack for the Queen’s sudden pounce that would surely disturb his repairs.
Silk threads danced around the Queen, lifting building materials and flinging them toward the hunters.
“Any ideas?”
The Great Sword Warrior deflected a piece of debris, stumbling back while shouting to his teammates.
With so many materials thrown, the Queen Mantis’ strength was dispersed, but getting hit would still leave one dazed.
“Anyone locked-on should retreat, making her throw the materials further!”
“Those not locked-on should close in and attack, forcing her to reduce her ranged weapon usage.”
It was the only option, but if the team didn’t coordinate well, they’d die slowly.
Kempe and the female archer had the highest threat level in the Queen’s eyes, so they closed the distance, ensuring they remained lively within her line of sight.
“Huh?”
The mantis leaped onto the Queen’s Ruin City, distancing itself from the Great Sword and Katana Warriors nearby. Its ferocious appearance suggested trouble.
Suddenly, it pulled silk threads, dragging several familiar objects from the ruins on the Ruin City’s back, suspended mid-air, aiming directly at the hunters.
These were treasures of the King, five decaying Strike Dragon Guns, three of which only retained their spearheads.
“Cool!”
Jié Jié watched the Queen wielding five Strike Dragon Guns like a sword sage, involuntarily praising her before craving such power.
The mantis grew stronger with wealth, using materials to build mechas and unleashing multiple Strike Dragon Guns.
While Jie marveled, the hunters felt their scalps tingle.
Everyone wanted to use Strike Dragon Guns, but no one wanted to be targeted by them.
“Dodge!!!”
The guns spun high in the air. The Katana Warrior lunged forward, rolling under the Queen’s Ruin City, breaking the lock.
Others weren’t so lucky; trying to run away, they saw the gun tips always pointed at them, causing goosebumps.
The sharp edges were still visible despite decay, now enchanted with tetanus.
Being locked-on yet untouched was the most terrifying moment.
“Hey!”
The Katana Warrior emerged from the ruins, loudly calling out to draw the mantis’ attention, diverting one gun to give teammates more room for error.
The hunters instinctively wanted to say something, but this wasn’t the time for gratitude or objections.
As golden beetles danced on the silk web, Strike Dragon Guns flew out one after another.
Finally, here it comes.
The Chief Hunter lunged forward, the Katana Warrior raised his blade tip, the Great Sword stood like a fortress protecting the Great Sword Warrior, and the female archer danced in rotation.
Lunge, Water Moon Slash, Block, Slide Step Dodge.
The Chief Hunter landed clumsily, grateful to still have all limbs intact, then looked at his comrades.
First, he saw the silent dancer easily deflecting the spearhead with a flick of her blade, sending it flying behind her, looking effortless.
Next was the sturdy Great Sword Warrior whose silver glow reflected off the iron wall, the powerful Strike Dragon Gun failing to pierce through top-tier defense, merely knocking Hubble back who drank a recovery potion while covering his sword.
The fourth Strike Dragon Gun aimed at Lena, but she danced gracefully, leaving the gun to miss entirely.
The Dual Blade Warrior felt somewhat out of place in this group.
“Careful!”
A teammate shouted as the mantis’ silk web still held the fifth Strike Dragon Gun, rotating and locking onto him.
Standing up, adrenaline surged, causing him to sprint, but he noticed the glint of cold steel never fading.
The mantis had predicted his running trajectory.
Realizing this, Kempe suddenly twisted his body, naturally drawing spiral wind blades with his dual swords, hearing the sound of the Strike Dragon Gun hitting the ground behind him.
“～～”
An angry screech echoed as the empty Strike Dragon Guns obviously angered the Queen again.
She swung her silk thread, pulling down a massive metal wheel from the Ruin City’s back, spinning it rapidly towards them.
The Katana Warrior performed an Observation Slash to dodge, but didn’t expect the Queen Mantis to hang behind the wheel, dragged along, delivering a devastating slash with her mantis arm, throwing the hunter far.
Just as the hunter landed, the wheel flipped over, and the Queen swept across the ground.
“Hack…hack…”
The previous blow and fall left the Katana Warrior immobilized, helplessly watching the wheel approach.
“Ha!”
A shadow accompanied by a battle cry appeared, holding a door-sized greatsword in front, sparks flying as the spinning metal wheel met resistance. Leveraging the embedded part of the greatsword, the wheel was deflected, narrowly missing Hubble’s head.
“Hey, I need a break, count on you.”
The Great Sword Warrior leaned on his sword, blood dripping from his palm, panting heavily before struggling to stand, attempting to drag the heavy sword but finding no strength in his wrists, letting it crash to the ground, nearly falling himself.
“You go, I’ll handle it.”
The Katana Warrior rose, feeling his lack of eloquence as he grabbed the hilt of the greatsword, sticky with blood.
The blade seemed dyed faintly red in his eyes. He turned around to see the mantis driving the wheel rampantly across the battlefield, tormenting his teammates.
The Katana Warrior began sprinting with the greatsword, catching up to the mantis’ axe, embedding the sword deep into the ground before soaring high, spinning mid-air, crashing down upon the Queen Mantis.
“～～”
The injured Queen Mantis screamed in retreat, releasing a strange aroma growing stronger, causing intense itching sensations among the hunters.
“Its pheromones are corrosive!”
The female archer called out, sliding behind the mantis, firing an arrow under its cracked abdominal plate, followed by a bowstring strike, neutralizing its counterattack.
Three of them then surrounded the mantis for a close-range assault.
