Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”Shen Qiuyue, should we retreat?! Let’s live to fight another day!” Sun Yang yelled while frantically spraying with his Pulse Gun. The suppressive fire was effective, but he was running dangerously low on ammo.

”Shut up! Just hold on a little longer!”

Shen Qiuyue replied coldly. Her Dueling Sword flashed, bisecting an approaching member of the Insect Race.

Bright green liquid splattered across the ground, but she didn’t even blink.

”Hold on? Easy for you to say!”

Sun Yang gasped for breath behind a rock, the heat from the Pulse Gun making his palm go numb. ”I’m almost out of ammo! If ten more of them show up, we’re toast!”

Xiaohai gave him a calm glance. ”If ten more do show up, the optimal solution would be for you to use your gunstock in close combat. You could at least hold them off.”

”Me, use my gunstock? Are you kidding me?!”

Sun Yang’s eyes widened. ”The fangs of the Insect Race can chew through steel plates! I’m just flesh and blood—one touch and I’m a goner!”

”Then shut up and focus on shooting!”

Shen Qiuyue said coldly, her sword piercing another member of the Insect Race that was trying to flank them.

The swarm’s numbers weren’t decreasing; on the contrary, more and more were gathering.

It was as if they were constantly probing the Insect Hunter Squad’s defensive line, searching for the best point to break through.

”Look! A few more just came out from behind those trees over there!”

Sun Yang shrieked, raising his gun and firing. While the covering fire pushed back the insects in front, it also drew more attention.

”This is getting annoying,” Shen Qiuyue muttered, adjusting the direction of her blade. ”Xiaohai, double-check if there’s a better defensive position!”

”There’s no safer terrain nearby! This Rock Area is already the optimal choice!”

Xiaohai replied quickly, his tone still calm, but the sweat beading on his forehead betrayed his nervousness.

Sun Yang collapsed onto the ground, his face drenched in sweat. ”I can barely lift my arm anymore. If only the Captain were here, his Saw Chain Sword would mince these bugs!”

”The Captain isn’t here, so don’t expect anyone to save you!”

Shen Qiuyue said, sweeping her Dueling Sword horizontally to force back two charging members of the Insect Race. ”Rely on yourself. Don’t be a burden!”

”A burden?!”

Sun Yang was indignant. He struggled to his feet and resumed firing. ”I’m our fire support! Without me, you two would’ve been swamped by the Insect Race by now!”

”Is that so? Then why don’t you finish off the rest of them?”

Shen Qiuyue replied nonchalantly, her eyes fixed on the swarm ahead. ”Stop wasting time and put your bullets where they count!”

Sun Yang gritted his teeth. Though he was still defiant verbally, his hands moved more efficiently.

He adjusted the Pulse Gun’s mode, minimizing the attack range to concentrate his fire on the swarm’s weak points.

”There! Happy now?!”

He shouted as he fired, as if trying to prove himself.

”Stop talking and concentrate!”

Xiaohai warned abruptly, ”The swarm’s movements are becoming orderly. The High-tier Insect Race might be directing them!”

”The High-tier Insect Race?”

Sun Yang’s voice jumped an octave. ”Don’t tell me one of them is coming too!”

Shen Qiuyue narrowed her eyes, quickly scanning their surroundings. ”If a member of the High-tier Insect Race is really here, we can’t drag this fight out. We have to find a way to get away!”

”Get away? Easier said than done!”

Sun Yang yelled, the ammunition for his Pulse Gun nearly depleted. He quickly pulled out a small grenade he was carrying. ”Hey, Shen Qiuyue, you want me to give them a big surprise?!”

”You only have three grenades. Save them for a critical moment. Don’t waste them!”

Shen Qiuyue raised her arm to block an attack from one insect, then kicked a rock at another one that was crawling toward her, temporarily easing the pressure.

”Captain, we’re approaching the second group’s position!”

Bai Lin said while running, his eyes fixed on his terminal. ”The swarm’s numbers are increasing. Signal interference is severe. They might already be surrounded!”

”How long can they hold out?”

Li Chang’an asked as he ran, his Saw Chain Sword already in hand, ready to activate at a moment’s notice.

”I estimate less than ten minutes!”

Bai Lin answered in a low voice.

”Pick up the pace!”

Li Chang’an gave the brief command, his steps quickening.

Han Ruoxi, following close behind him, couldn’t help but complain, ”Couldn’t we use a vehicle for all this running? Do we have to do everything on two legs? The Insect Race is about to overrun them!”

”Shut up and run!”

Li Chang’an replied coldly, his pace not slowing in the slightest.

Soon, they burst into the second group’s combat zone.

The scene before them made Han Ruoxi gasp—dozens of members of the Insect Race were besieging Shen Qiuyue, Sun Yang, and Xiaohai. The number of insects far exceeded their expectations.

”Holy shit! Are they throwing an Insect Race party or something?!”

Han Ruoxi exclaimed, electricity instantly gathering in her hands. ”Captain, what’s the plan?”

”Draw their attention, break the swarm’s formation, and buy them a chance to escape!”

Li Chang’an made his decision instantly. With a roar from his Saw Chain Sword, he charged straight into the swarm.

”He’s here! The Captain’s here!”

Seeing Li Chang’an, Sun Yang was so happy he nearly jumped up. ”See? I told you! When the chips are down, you can always count on the Captain!”

”Less chatter, more focus!”

Shen Qiuyue shouted, gripping her Dueling Sword tightly as she met a new wave of the Insect Race’s assault.

The tide of battle turned in an instant. Li Chang’an took on multiple enemies at once, the sharp teeth of his Saw Chain Sword ripping through one member of the Insect Race after another, while Han Ruoxi’s electrical interference effectively hampered the swarm’s movements.

”Fall back! Regroup at the Rock Area and set up a new defensive line!”

Li Chang’an ordered as he fought. The Insect Hunter Squad quickly adjusted its formation and retreated toward the safe zone.