The captain of the Hunting Team, whom Li referred to as "Ge Uncle," drew a longbow nearly as tall as himself, his gaze fixed on the monsters circling above the First Laboratory.
These creatures stood ten meters tall. Though bipedal, their legs were disproportionately short, perhaps only a tenth of their total height. In contrast, their arms were so long they could easily touch the ground when hanging naturally. Their entire bodies were covered in a white, stone-like carapace as hard as rock.
They resembled massive stone golems.
The Hunting Team had arrived and now took aim at the monsters. They halted, nocked their specially crafted arrows, and drew their bows, ready to unleash a barrage.
Boom!
A deafening, explosive roar filled the air. If Li's arrows were like anti-tank sniper rifles, the Hunting Team's arrows were akin to naval cannons, their power overwhelming.
As the projectiles streaked through the air, they carved visible furrows into the crimson desert sand, sending plumes of grit billowing skyward.
In the blink of an eye, the arrows traversed the kilometer-long distance and slammed into the stone golems. Chunks of rock exploded into the air, and one golem, struck repeatedly in the waist, was blasted in two.
However, this initial barrage couldn't possibly eliminate all the monsters. It was followed by three more volleys of concentrated fire, creating a relentless cacophony of explosions.
Inside the First Laboratory, located directly beneath the battlefield, the trio could clearly feel the ground shaking violently beneath their feet. Ikezawa stared at the live feed on the monitor, his throat suddenly dry. "They're not just going to wipe out all these monsters from way over there and then turn around and leave, are they?"
Earlier, Ikezawa had wondered why Li, despite her formidable strength, wasn't a member of the Hunting Team. Could it be because the team only accepted men, or perhaps because she was still underage?
Now, it seemed the answer was simply that Li's strength was insufficient. While she was undoubtedly powerful, the members of the Hunting Team were clearly on another level entirely.
To be honest, Ikezawa had indulged in a period of self-congratulation after gaining his newfound power. After all, who wouldn't feel puffed up after acquiring the strength to lift a car with one hand and the agility to leap ten meters into the air?
During training with Li, he had even managed to hold his own against her, further inflating his confidence. That was why he had boldly declared to Lingsha, "I'll protect you," a classic line he now regretted.
Looking back at himself now, Ikezawa felt utterly deflated. Any lingering pride had vanished as he realized the true meaning of "there's always someone better" and "the sky's the limit."
Hearing Ikezawa's words, Li reassured him, "That's unlikely. These massive arrows are precious resources. They wouldn't waste them all here. They're just softening up the enemy before the real fight—close combat."
Lingsha continued watching the monitor. True to Li's prediction, after three volleys, the Hunting Team slung their bows over their backs and resumed their charge, closing the distance to the stone giants with surprising speed.
The Hunting Team carried no melee weapons. The world's technology was far too primitive; they hadn't even reached the Bronze Age, let alone mastered iron smelting or steelmaking. And even if they had metal weapons, would they truly be more effective than the bare hands and feet of these super-beasts?
Undaunted by facing enemies many times their size, every member of the Hunting Team harnessed the momentum of their charge, leaping into the air like living projectiles, hurtling themselves toward their foes.
The battle was utterly one-sided. To even call it a "battle" would be an insult to the Hunting Team; it was nothing short of a massacre. The monsters were outmatched in every way: their strength couldn't compare to the team's, and their hardened stone hides proved no match for the Hunting Team's attacks.
Worse still, the monsters were slow and clumsy, completely outmaneuvered by the Hunting Team's agility. With no redeeming qualities, how could they possibly stand a chance?
Ikezawa clicked his tongue in disbelief. "Isn't this a bit ridiculous? Which side is supposed to be the monsters here?"
As the battle concluded, Li, who had been in the laboratory, hurried to the previously blocked entrance and called out, "Ge Uncle! We're here! Can you help us dig out?"
Li's voice wasn't loud—just her normal speaking tone. Buried five or six meters underground with a thick layer of sand in between, no ordinary person could have heard her. But clearly, the Hunting Team was anything but ordinary.
The instant Li spoke, every member of the Hunting Team's ears practically perked up.
After a short wait, the buried entrance was reopened, and Lingsha and the others successfully returned to the surface.
Ge Uncle watched Li, who stood before him, wagging her tail and cheerfully recounting her adventures. He sighed helplessly, unable to bring himself to scold her.
More than anything, her health and safety mattered most.
After exchanging greetings with the Hunting Team, Li bounced over to Lingsha and Ikezawa, asking eagerly, "Where are we going next?"
It was clear she still wanted to stick with them instead of returning to her clan. But with the Hunting Team nearby, there was no way Ge Uncle could let her run off again. He strode over and pinched Li's ear. "Where do you think you're going? You little rascal! Get back to camp right now! Why are you wandering off like this?"
"Eeeek! My ear! My ear!" Li yelped, grimacing in pain but stubbornly insisting, "But camp's so boring! Let me come with you!"
Ge Uncle rubbed his temples, looking exasperated at the squirming girl. After a brief stalemate, he reluctantly released her and turned to Lingsha and Ikezawa. "Where are you two headed now?"
Now that they had escaped the First Laboratory, Ikezawa's previous excuse of "I can't abandon Li, so I can't leave" was no longer valid. In theory, he could now depart this world at any time.
However, Lingsha glanced at him and immediately sensed his reluctance to leave. The reason was obvious to anyone who understood the situation.
Lingsha pulled out a map, pointed north, and said, "We plan to head in this direction."
Not a specific destination, but simply a direction? Ge Uncle looked north, then suddenly seemed to realize something. "You're planning to just keep going straight?"
"Yes," Lingsha nodded.
"Then there shouldn't be any danger," Ge Uncle surprisingly agreed without hesitation. He turned to Li and said, "The Clan won't be migrating anytime soon. Just remember to come back when you've had your fill of fun."