Lin Qianqian briefly relayed the information Vice Chairman Wang had brought back yesterday.
"After discussions among the association's dozen elite Awakened yesterday, it was decided to form a specialized team. Chairman Wu will personally lead the first reconnaissance mission to White Egret Port's berthing area."
"The objective is simply to confirm environmental conditions at the pathway entrance, monster distribution patterns, and the activity range of that leader-class creature. We won't be venturing into the core zone yet. The association's top dozen members are all participating."
She studied Han Ning's reaction before continuing, "Given your exceptional capabilities, your participation would significantly increase both the mission's success probability and safety margin. Would you consider joining?"
Han Ning fell silent.
He was merely three hundred growth points away from breaking through to Lv5. Methodically hunting peripheral monsters was both safer and more efficient—why take unnecessary risks?
Moreover, apart from Lin Qianqian, he barely knew any association members. Zero teamwork experience. Zero trust established.
After several seconds, he asked, "How does Chairman Wu's combat capability compare to mine?"
"In terms of comprehensive abilities, slightly below yours. Chairman Wu's leadership position stems primarily from administrative skills. Combat-wise, there's little difference between him and the vice chairs—just different specializations," Lin Qianqian explained.
Hearing this, Han Ning shook his head politely, "I feel my breakthrough is imminent. I'd prefer honing skills in safer zones for a few more days. This operation... I'll have to decline. Is the urgency absolute? No possibility of delay?"
"Sigh... We really can't wait. As mentioned earlier... the core Mist Zone creatures grow stronger almost daily."
"Every day we gain intelligence is another day we maintain initiative."
Lin Qianqian's expression showed neither disappointment nor displeasure, her tone remaining measured, "Participation is entirely your choice. I respect your decision—though this means we won't be able to coordinate in the Mist Zone today."
"What about Yu Na? Is she going?"
Understanding his implication, Lin Qianqian replied, "Yu Na's staying back this time. Her field experience still needs development. She'll remain at base. If you plan continued Mist Zone exploration, you could take her along."
"Understood." Han Ning nodded.
"In that case, I need to prepare for the expedition." Without further discussion, Lin Qianqian turned and strode decisively toward the second floor.
...
Late morning, approximately 300 meters into the Mist Zone's southern entrance.
Swirling white mist reduced visibility to under ten meters.
Han Ning and Yu Na advanced cautiously through the dense fog in single file.
Snowflake swam point position, his massive form half-submerged as he scanned the surroundings vigilantly.
Yu Na maintained a rippling Mental Barrier resembling water currents around herself.
With only five Crimson Mist Tomatoes remaining, Han Ning hesitated to expend them on ordinary Mirage Worms.
Moreover, without Lin Qianqian's Energy replenishment, Yu Na's Mental Barrier had severely limited duration.
Thus upon entering, Han Ning had pushed deep, penetrating straight to the 300-meter zone.
"Left front—abnormal water current disturbance," Yu Na whispered urgently. Her eyes glowed with an eerie blue luminescence that seemed to pierce the fog.
.
"It's huge... a Vortex Shell Crab, alone, approaching."
"Good! Snowflake, draw its attention."
"Roar!" Snowflake let out a provocative growl, its thick tail slamming the water's surface and sending up a massive splash.
No longer hiding, its massive body accelerated toward the direction Yu Na had indicated, deliberately creating a huge commotion.
It raised its claws and hurled a glass bottle filled with diluted ink that Han Ning had prepared earlier.
The murky water churned violently.
Splash!
A translucent figure stained with ink broke through the dense mist, appearing ahead.
It was the Vortex Shell Crab.
This one was slightly larger than the one they had hunted yesterday, its body nearly exceeding a meter in width, like a miniature tank.
Its pair of hard pincers spun rapidly, while the eel-like tail crackled with dangerous sparks of electricity.
"Skree!" Enraged by Snowflake's provocation, the Vortex Shell Crab turned its pincers and fired a concentrated High-Pressure Water Cannon.
Snowflake was prepared, executing a death roll to narrowly dodge the water jet.
The water cannon grazed its scales and exploded against a half-submerged concrete pillar behind it, sending debris flying.
"Skree!" Failing its first strike, the Vortex Shell Crab opened its mouth and let out an angry screech.
At the same time, Han Ning moved.
He activated Nature's Blessing, briefly enhancing his mental perception and purification abilities.
[Nature's Blessing (Beginner) Proficiency +1, Current: 33/200]
Before his eyes, the Vortex Shell Crab's white body was outlined by a ring of green particles.
His right hand darted into his waist pouch, grabbing a Crimson Mist Tomato and wrapping it with Vines.
"Go!"
Whoosh!
The Vines, entwined with the Crimson Mist Tomato, shot straight into the Vortex Shell Crab's gaping mouth.
The crab's attention was entirely fixed on the agile Snowflake, and the Vines were thrown so fast that it only had time to reflexively snap its pincers shut.
Snap!
The Vines were severed by the sharp edges of its claws, but the crimson tomato, carried by momentum, rolled straight into the crab's wide-open mouth.
"Gulp..." The Vortex Shell Crab seemed to choke on the sudden "meal," instinctively swallowing.
The tomato tumbled down its throat.
Time seemed to freeze for a moment.
Just a second or two.
Hum!
A thick, almost tangible pale-red mist gushed out from every crevice of the crab's body—its mouth, eyes, and shell gaps—like a PUBG airdrop's red smoke, swirling around it without rising.
"Skree... Gah?" The crab let out a strange hiss.
Its body, covered in thick gray-white shell, visibly flushed an unnatural shade of red.
Especially at the joint connections and the relatively fragile abdominal shell, it turned as red as a boiled crab.
The rapidly spinning drill-like pincers gradually ground to a halt.
The electric sparks on its eel tail flickered wildly due to its agitated state.
Now, it looked like a drunken brute, swaying unsteadily, its thick limbs flailing clumsily in the muddy water.
It tried to lift one of its front pincers but lost balance, crashing sideways into the water with a thunderous splash.
Struggling to get up, its movements were weak and uncoordinated.
"Hiss... roar?" Even Snowflake was stunned, stopping in place, its yellow vertical pupils filled with confusion.
"What did you feed it?" Yu Na's mouth slightly opened in astonishment.
"The effect is this strong? Seems like one tomato is too much." Even Han Ning was surprised.
The Crimson Mist Tomato's effect far exceeded his expectations.
Without hesitation, he immediately manipulated the vines.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Over a dozen vines shot out, slipping into the gaps of the Vortex Shell Crab's armor.
The entire process went completely unnoticed by the crab.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Under Han Ning's precise Spiritual Power control, the tough vine tips erupted with terrifying penetrating force, effortlessly piercing through the weak points of the shell and deeply embedding into the crab's relatively soft internal tissues.
[Vine Manipulation (Advanced) Proficiency +2, Current: 40/500]
The Vortex Shell Crab seemed to have dulled pain perception, only letting out an indistinct, dreamlike whimper as its body convulsed weakly.
The vines inside the crab's body twisted violently.
[Vine Manipulation (Advanced) Proficiency +1, Current: 41/500]
"Gurgle... Gah!"
Within mere seconds, the Vortex Shell Crab went completely limp, ceasing all movement.
The unnatural flush rapidly faded, leaving only the cold, grayish-white shell floating on the murky water's surface.
The spreading Crimson Mist gradually dissipated into the thick white fog.
Swish!
A much larger blue-white light cluster than those from ordinary Vortex Shell Crabs drifted from the corpse, splitting in two—most flowing into Han Ning's body while a smaller portion flew toward Yu Na.
[Druid Growth Progress +105] (Current: Lv4, 332/600)
[Mental Power +0.15] (Mental Power: 1.13)
[Swamp Crocodile Lizard Growth Progress +20] (Current: 91/200)
A surge of warmth spread through his body, nourishing both flesh and mind.
Watching the numbers flicker on his panel and feeling the noticeable increase in Mental Power, Han Ning couldn't help but let a slight smile tug at his lips.
"Feels amazing!"
"The Crimson Mist Tomato's effect is ridiculously strong. Isn't this basically invincibility?"
"Bah! Bah! Bah!"
Remembering the last guy who claimed invincibility had lost all cognitive abilities, Han Ning immediately shook his head, trying to dislodge the thought.
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