[Simulated Fallen Zone, Quicksand Star]
[Remaining Survival Time: 02:59]
[Current Quicksand Star Ore Collection: 0/10]
Shh Shh
The yellow sand made a fine sound beneath his feet. Chen Kong hugged the shadow beneath a broken wall of the library ruins, holding his breath with all his might.
Surprisingly, even though Chen Kong had less than three minutes left until the mission ended, he did not follow the mission requirements to collect the scattered Quicksand Star Ore in the ruins.
Instead, he was using the safe area previously cleared by Enite to approach the center of the ant nest step by step.
However, even these areas that had been purged by Enite were still fraught with danger for the current Chen Kong.
"Another one."
In the shadow of the ruins, Chen Kong's pupils slightly contracted. His peripheral vision caught three Quicksand Star Black Ants crawling along the wall corner, inching towards his position.
Although these Quicksand Star Black Ants looked similar to ordinary ants, in addition to being able to distinguish 'pheromones' with the antennae on their foreheads, they also possessed very strong 'dynamic vision'.
Therefore, even if he used his Void Rune to suppress his presence, they would still be able to capture his pheromones with their antennae and discover his hiding spot if the distance was less than five meters.
In a moment of crisis, Chen Kong raised the Void Weaver in his hand.
Bang!
A Void Rune bullet accurately hit the foremost Quicksand Star Black Ant.
Although the shot did not instantly kill the opponent, it disrupted the rhythm of the three Quicksand Star Black Ants.
Concurrently, Chen Kong took advantage of the brief disturbance, quickly ducking into a gap in the nearby ruins like a nimble kitten.
The few Quicksand Star Black Ants circled in place for a few seconds. Unable to find Chen Kong, they finally crawled deeper into the ant nest to guard their Queen.
Gazing at the direction the Quicksand Star Black Ants left, Chen Kong sighed in relief, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.
This was the fifteenth wave of Black Ants he had avoided. Every time he got closer to the nest, the danger increased.
However, this action of his left the dimension-hopping viewers on Site 13 somewhat puzzled.
'Strange, what is Chen Kong doing?'
'The mission requirement is to collect ore, but Chen Kong hasn't collected a single piece of ore during this time. Instead, he keeps moving deeper into the nest. Does he have some other objective?'
'Perhaps there is something more attractive in this nest than completing the mission for Chen Kong.'
The dimension-hopping viewers' guess was correct. Compared to completing the mission, Chen Kong did indeed have another, more important objective.
[Simulated Fallen Zone, Quicksand Star Ant Nest - Outer Edge]
[Remaining Survival Time: 10 seconds]
[Ore Collection: 0/10]
After wasting a significant amount of time, Chen Kong finally found his true target behind a pile of rubble.
A Quicksand Star Soldier Ant, three times the size of a regular Black Ant. Traces of Enite's punches still lingered on its carapace, indicating it had only recently died, and a faint Star Energy fluctuation remained in its body.
Looking at the half-dead Quicksand Star Soldier Ant, Chen Kong ignored the Quicksand Star Black Ants that were closing in on him and rushed towards the Soldier Ant with his Star Energy fully activated.
Countdown '3 seconds'. The pincers of a Black Ant snapped shut behind him, cutting his combat suit, but he didn't even look back.
Countdown '2 seconds'. Chen Kong's fingertips touched the Soldier Ant's icy carapace.
Countdown '1 second'. Chen Kong's Star Source, The Fantasist, instantly burst forth!
Accompanied by a burst of intense Star Energy fluctuations, pale black double-helix Star Energy trails abruptly surfaced from within the Soldier Ant's body.
They were like two intertwining 'DNA strands', drilling into his body through Chen Kong's fingertips.
These Star Energy trails, carrying the Soldier Ant's 'life information' and 'Star Core characteristics', left a faint imprint in his Star Source before completely disappearing.
[Simulation Ended! Mission Completion: 0%, Rating: Failed]
The moment the holographic panel popped up, Chen Kong's figure was enveloped in a white light, and his consciousness returned to the simulation pod in reality.
[Yellow-Grade Training Area, Fallen Zone Holographic Simulation Experience Store]
"It's done!"
Chen Kong abruptly sat up in the simulation pod, unable to suppress his excitement, and shouted out loud without warning.
The surrounding trainees who were resting were startled by him and cast strange glances.
After all, no one had ever seen someone so happy with zero mission completion. They were most likely 'crazy'.
However, Chen Kong did not pay attention to the strange looks of others.
Because just as he hurried out of the simulation pod, Bai Kong's arrogant voice, which had not appeared for a long time, rang in his mind.
'Not bad. With the Soldier Ant's identity imprint as cover.'
'Next time you enter the Quicksand Star simulation, you can use this imprint to trick the ordinary Black Ants and approach the core area where the Queen is located.'
Although the remains of the Quicksand Star Queen Ant were hidden in the core area, it was, after all, a Calamity-level Star Beast. Even if only remains were left, it was not certain that a mere Level Two Star Envoy could easily replicate it.
Not to mention that this was just a so-called 'simulation'.
Therefore, Chen Kong remained unsure about the chances of success later on.
Thus, Chen Kong asked back, somewhat uncertainly, in his mind: 'But are you sure this will allow me to replicate part of the Calamity-level Queen's ability?'
'I'm not sure.'
Bai Kong's reply carried a hint of nonchalance and some mockery.
However, after a pause, his tone instantly became serious.
'But even a one-in-ten-thousand chance is worth the attempt.'
'After all, Calamity-level Star Beasts are not cabbages in a vegetable market that you can encounter casually.'
'Not to mention that this Queen Ant is confirmed dead and has retained its physical tissue—a Calamity-level at that.'
'Miss this opportunity, and you might never find such a good chance again.'
'Therefore, instead of worrying about whether you can succeed, first think about whether you can reach the core area.'
Although Bai Kong's words were all meant to 'persuade' him, Chen Kong could sense that he also had 'designs' on the Calamity-level Queen Ant.
However, considering the immense boost he would gain if he could replicate part of the Calamity-level Star Beast's ability, Chen Kong decided to continue trying.
Meanwhile, seeing Chen Kong emerge, Lena quickly ran over and asked with some concern, "Mr. Chen Kong, are you okay? I saw your mission completion was zero..."
"I'm fine."
Chen Kong smiled and shook his head, pointing towards the entrance of the simulation store.
"We'll try again next time. We'll definitely pass next time..."
Chen Kong's tone was full of confidence, because he knew that his goal had never been as simple as 'passing the simulation'.
[Site 13 Comment Section]
'Holy sh*t! So Chen Kong was trying to replicate the Soldier Ant's ability! I thought he had gone mad before!'
'A Calamity-level Queen Ant, that goal is too big! Chen Kong actually wants to replicate a Calamity-level ability!'
'Can The Fantasist be used like this?'