Chapter 701: A Shot Based On Instinct
Chairman Jiao's shout gained the attention of everyone.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing Chairman Jiao's expression, Feng Luo had already thought of something. His expression changed, as he quickly took a step forward to peer down into the hole in the ground at which Chairman Jiao was pointing the light.
The silvery beam of light pierced through the pitch black and seemingly bottomless hole. The light reached a platform around two or three hundred meters below them.
Then, the area lit up by the light had a bright purplish glow that was gorgeous. It looked as if it was covered with a layer of purple gemstones.
However, when Feng Luo saw the purplish thing that looked like gemstones, his feelings sunk.
They were all familiar with this color. Earlier, when the group was outside the Terminal, the Level-79 giant centipede — the highest level giant centipede that they had encountered thus far — was covered in a carapace that was able to withstand three unimbued psionic energy shots and which also glowed in a similar manner when the light hit it.
And it was exactly the case right now!
Chairman Jiao could not see it clearly due to his low vision. However, Feng Luo's eyesight was several times sharper than the average player, and he could see quite clearly that the thing emanating the purplish glow from more than two hundred meters down on the platform was an identical giant centipede that they had seen before!
Seeing only purple, Feng Lou could not tell how many centipedes there were in the hole.
Most importantly, the beam of light seemed to have startled the group of centipedes below them.
The initially calm and quiet purple mass began to swirl and move. Several giant centipedes, measuring over three meters long, began to crawl up along the sides of the platform walls.
By that time, Mu Zi and the others had also caught up with them. Several of them gasped as they peered into the hole.
"F*ck me! There are so many giant centipedes!"
"They have definitely noticed us!"
One Pillar Skyward's words were meaningless; it was simply too obvious.
Chairman Jiao was soaked in sweat as he quickly raised his head and said, "Hurry, we should quickly record a video of this space battleship as proof. Then, we'll get the hell out of here!"
Since the distance between them was 200 to 300 meters and the wall seemed to be rather smooth and slippery, the centipedes below them did not appear to be crawling up very quickly. A few of them even fell halfway through.
On seeing this, the group knew that they had some time left. No matter what it was, they had to get evidence of this space battleship first; it had become their top priority.
Realizing this, apart from Feng Luo and Mu Zi, the rest of the players quickly ran towards the space battleship. By getting closer, they would be able record a more detailed video using their personal terminal.
On the other hand, Feng Luo stayed beside the hole and continued to stare down with a grim expression.
The situation was actually much more serious than what Chairman Jiao had imagined.
Since Chairman Jiao and the others did not have a keen sense of vision, and the space below them was too dark, they did not notice that the giant centipedes were more than just crawling up along the walls.
Feng Luo's vision and the strong beam of light helped him to see quite clearly that a few giant centipedes emanating a purplish glow were "ascending" directly from below.
To be more precise, the giant centipedes were not ascending, but rather flying!
Among the group of countless giant centipedes were a few larger, special ones. These centipedes measured over five meters long, and two slightly red translucent wings were sticking out on top of their nodular bodies.
Usually, giant centipedes could only crawl up along the edges of the wall. However, their wings enabled these special centipedes to fly.
Although at first sight, it seemed that the special centipedes were not traveling very quickly, they were still much faster than the crawling centipedes
"They are Commander-Grade monsters!"
This time, even the usually steady Mu Zi, raised his voice.
Mu Zi also did not go to record the video; he stayed behind because he specifically wanted to cast the Detection skill at the group of centipedes below them.
These giant centipedes were able to conceal themselves from standard detection. But, with nothing in-between them, the Detection skill was able to pick up information about them.
On the screen of the recon meter, apart from a large number of yellow dots that indicated typical monsters, more than a dozen or so orange dots, which signified Commander Grade monsters, also appeared!
These "Flying Centipedes" were actually Commander Grade monsters. Moreover, they were Commander Grade monsters that were close to Level 80.
The earlier Level 79 Elite Grade giant centipede already had the combat strength on par with a Level 50 Commander Grade monster.
And now, they were seeing more than a dozen Commander Grade "Flying Centipedes" rise from the area below and head towards them!
This time, even Feng Luo was feeling shocked and wary. He turned around and said to Chairman Jiao's video-recording group of four, "Everyone, hurry up!"
"A dozen or so Commander Grade monsters are coming! Prepare to retreat!"
Chairman Jiao and the other three, who had just hastily recorded a short video clip near them, were taken aback when they heard this.
They quickly packed their things and turned around. The six of them ran towards the place that Feng Luo had indicated earlier. Then, they charged just in time into the entrance.
As the last player, Rose Thorns, charged through the entrance, the first Level 78 "Flying Centipede" had also rushed out of the hole in the ground and into the air.
After it exited the hole, its wings continued to buzz as it turned to chase Feng Luo's group without hesitation.
However, by the time it reached the hole in the "wall" that Feng Luo had made using his psionic energy, the Level 78 "Flying Centipede" was restrained by its wings and over-three-meter large body. It was a good thing Feng Luo had cut out a small hole to conserve his psionic energy; this helped stall the centipede for some time.
In the midst of this, the group from Nightless City Club had already reached the other side of the plaza and was moving towards the corridor from which it came.
By that time, the Commander Grade "Flying Centipede" was again up in the air, but it did not continue its chase. Instead, it opened its blood stench insect mouthparts. Then, a red, highly condensed energy ball appeared, along with a frightening aura that strengthened very quickly.
"This is bad..."
When the Commander centipede started to condense energy, Feng Luo could feel a sense of heat coming from behind his back.
What did the vague tingling sense of heat mean? Feng Luo knew it very well, for he had almost familiarized himself with "energy perception" after acquiring and increasing the hidden stat, Mental Power.
If it were just the condensed energy attack of a typical Commander Grade monster, it would still be fine: such attacks were usually more lethal to low-HP glass cannon professions.
However, this was a Level 80 Commander Grade monster!
The earlier Elite Grade giant centipede had the combat strength on par with a Level 50 Commander Grade monster.
One could only imagine the power of the condensed energy attack of this Commander Grade centipede. Once it was released, it could very well mean an indifferent, instant kill for all its targets!
Although Feng Luo's speed would enable him to activate Raging Charge and get into the corridor that was almost within reach before the attack came, the rest of the party would be annihilated!
As he was reaching the entrance of the corridor, Feng Luo suddenly stopped in his tracks. He then turned around, and a dark red layer of Life Armor covered his body.
After that, as fast as he could, Feng Lou stabilized the swinging Wings of Death as he turned around to a certain angle before pulling the trigger.
Bang!
Feng Luo actually did not have time to take aim for the shot. In fact, he did not even look through the sniping scope.
It was simply that he used his instinct borne of thousands of shots!
As soon as the bullet exited the chamber, Feng Luo knew exactly what the result would be.
"It's a hit!"
The searing hot, B Grade Deflagration Armor-piercing Bullet flew out of the muzzle of Wings of Death. It left a trail of red in the dark space and traveled over a hundred meters to enter the fully-opened, about a dozen centimeter wide mouth of the giant flying centipede.
Boom!
-13456!
-5200!
-8445!
-234, -245, -196...
About a few tenths of a second later, the fire energy ball that was almost completed inside the Commander Grade flying centipede exploded uncontrollably. Immediately after the explosion, intense flames and energy waves spread and engulfed the surrounding area of five to six meters.
As a result, three high damage numbers appeared: that caused by the bullet, by Fatal Talent, and the explosive energy ball. Over time, a series of burning increased the damage count.
The shot took out a quarter of the Commander Grade monster's HP and, unprotected by its external shell, the mouthparts of the flying centipede were a burnt mess. The shockwaves of the explosion also destroyed half of its wings, and the burnt centipede's numerous legs squirmed as its body fell on the ground. That spelled the end of its attack on the group that had already reached the entrance of the corridor.
But, despite all that, two other "Flying Centipedes" with hundreds of legs and wings, emanating a purplish glow had just rushed out of the hole in the ground behind them!