Cannon fodder in the Interstellar

The twisting, waving dark gray branches resembled the terrifying monsters she had seen in horror films from the Earth, making the bumpkin from Earth feel like she had stepped into a fantasy world, leaving her overwhelmed.

However, with her strength as her confidence, Ruo Manni did not feel frightened when she saw that the highest level of these mutated trees was only Tier 2. Moreover, it was broad daylight, so she felt there was nothing to fear.

Protected by Su Forty-Three, Ruo Manni didn’t need to make a move herself. She carefully observed their surroundings and noticed that there were at least a dozen mutated trees, all belonging to the same group. They had walked right into a circle of mutated trees.

Wasn’t it said that mutated trees would fight each other, and usually only one mutated tree could grow within a kilometer? Why was it different here in the forest? Could it be due to the presence of that mutated tree with a psychic core?

Ruo Manni felt that if things continued like this, the situation would not be favorable for them. Although these mutated trees were only Tier 1 or 2 and couldn’t directly harm them, they couldn’t just chop them down either. The mutated trees were cunningly using their branches to wage guerrilla warfare. If this went on, they would eventually succumb to exhaustion, like being bitten to death by countless ants.

Just as Ruo Manni was about to suggest an idea to Hebrew Adam, she heard him loudly command, “Everyone, gather around me! Come closer, form up together, and let’s breakthrough as one!”

The members of Adam’s squad, who had been concentrating on dealing with the mutated trees, obediently moved toward him while continuing to fend off the branches.

Although there were many mutated trees here, they were all only Tier 1 or 2, and their roots were firmly anchored to the ground, unable to move freely. The branches were numerous, but they were wary of the sharp blades in the squad members’ hands. Therefore, the group quickly gathered together.

Once the Adam squad members had formed up, Hebrew Adam arranged them in a diamond formation. He led at the front, Su Forty-Three covered the rear, Tino Venamoinen and Ruo Manni took the left flank, while Sheila and Tamaki Kazia took the right.

There was no doubt about Hebrew Adam’s combat prowess; he had the demeanor of a warrior who could hold off thousands on his own. The sharp blade in his hand, Tang Li, sliced any branches it encountered into pieces.

The four members on either side of the formation were equally skilled, severing any branches daring enough to approach. Even the long sword in Ruo Manni’s hand wasn’t just for show. Thanks to the team’s excellent performance, the attacks Su Forty-Three faced at the rear were relatively few.

Working together as one, Adam’s squad moved like an arrow, cutting a path through the mutated forest, with branches falling and leaves flying wherever they went.

Even though there were many mutated trees here, they couldn’t move freely and thus couldn’t fully encircle them or stop their advance. Moreover, since the trees had gained some degree of intelligence, they even seemed to feel fear, and in the end, they didn’t dare confront the squad directly.

The more Adam’s squad fought, the smoother their progress became. Just as they were about to break out of the mutated forest area, they suddenly noticed the surrounding mutated trees shudder and abruptly shoot up, all transforming into Tier 5 mutated trees.

The members of Adam’s squad were utterly shocked. What was going on? Why had they encountered a whole cluster of Tier 5 mutated trees, which were far beyond their ability to handle?

Sheila reacted quickly, attempting to activate the distress signal, only to find that the signal was jammed.

These Tier 5 mutated trees were not only tall and thick, but their very presence exerted pressure that made it hard for the Level 4 fighters to breathe. A branch that swung toward Sheila was as thick as a human body, moving with incredible speed and force. She didn’t have time to dodge, and while her sword managed to strike the branch, it was forcefully deflected without leaving a single scratch.

Sheila was helpless and couldn’t avoid it; she could only watch as the thick branch struck her directly. Her whole body was flung into the air and then fell to the ground. She felt as if all her bones were shattered, intense pain surging throughout her body, and her vision darkened. It was a close call that she didn’t pass out.

Gasping for breath in agony, Sheila saw another branch of the mutated tree reaching out to grab her. However, she was severely injured, probably with several fractures throughout her body, completely drained of strength, and unable even to struggle.

But Sheila did not want to be captured without a fight. She wanted to call out to her teammates for help, to have them rescue her. However, when she barely lifted her head and tried to cry out, she realized that all of her companions were in the same predicament as she was — or rather, in an even worse one.

Facing the attacks of more than a dozen Tier 5 mutated trees, her teammates were not only unable to defeat them but were so fragile that they couldn’t even resist. Some were struck by branches, coughing up blood and collapsing, while others were bound by the branches, lifted high into the air, and then slammed heavily back down to the ground.

Sheila saw the tall and sturdy Tino Venamoinen being slammed to the ground and then lifted into the air again, his neck twisted at a bizarre angle. She felt her vision darken once more—no normal person’s neck could twist like that; such a position could only mean the bones were broken…

No, Tino Venamoinen couldn’t have died just like that—it couldn’t be that easy. What about the others? Sheila anxiously searched around.

She spotted Hebrew Adam, but instead of feeling relieved, she felt an even deeper sense of despair. She saw Hebrew Adam unconscious, his body wrapped by a branch, being dragged toward the roots of a Tier 5 mutated tree.

Then Sheila saw dozens of long, thin white tendrils emerging from the roots of the mutated tree, piercing into Hebrew Adam’s body. In no time, the white tendrils of the mutated tree turned blood-red.

The Tier 5 mutated tree was sucking Hebrew Adam’s blood. Even as his blood was being drained, Hebrew Adam couldn’t even struggle. Under Sheila’s horrified gaze, he slowly turned into a dried-up corpse…

Hebrew Adam was the strongest in both cultivation and combat in their team, yet he hadn’t even had a chance to resist—he was drained of all his blood just like that…

This scene was truly terrifying. Sheila shivered, feeling like she was about to lose her mind. No, she didn’t want to die like this; she didn’t want to be drained into a dried-up corpse…

Wasn’t someone supposed to come and save them in times of danger? Why hadn’t they appeared yet?

But no one came to their rescue. Hebrew Adam was dead, and now Ruo Manni was being dragged in front of another mutated tree trunk.

Ruo Manni was their squad’s backup—a psychic, the second-strongest in the team. Yet, like Hebrew Adam, she seemed to have lost consciousness. The white tendrils from the trunk of the Tier 5 mutated tree pierced her body, and the tendrils began to turn red…

Sheila broke down all at once; she wanted to scream, to cry…

No, she didn’t want to die. She was still so young; her life had just begun…

Sheila, in utter despair, wanted to cry out for help, but she couldn’t make a sound. At that moment, a branch of a mutated tree wrapped around her and dragged her toward a Tier 5 mutated tree…

Sheila was in utter despair. No, she didn’t want to die like this; she didn’t want to be drained into a dried-up corpse. She thought about committing suicide, but she couldn’t even do that because she couldn’t move at all…