Chapter 148: 147 sudden change!
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"Mind if I drive for a bit?"
Considering that the roads ahead might not be as easy to navigate, and more challenging sections would naturally require drivers with more experience, it only made sense to let the most skilled veteran driver take a break and cover a stretch for him.
The straight-line distance from the military camp to the target base was a whopping 613 kilometers. The actual distance would depend on the route taken, and without satellite navigation, no one knew what the wilderness ahead was like. But the estimate was that it would take between 14 to 24 hours to arrive.
No one had the energy to remain in peak condition for such a long period to face all potential emergencies, so adequate rest was vitally important.
Good steel should be used on the blade's edge, and this detail was meticulously planned for beforehand.
The arrangement made sense, and the veteran driver who had led everyone through the Blood Raven Forest nodded and gently pressed on the brake.
The drivers of the three off-road vehicles switched at the same time.
A skilled close-combat Asian soldier took the seat.
In vehicle No. 1, out of the eight people, four knew how to drive, including the driver and co-driver as well as the two close-combat experts.
Considering that those skilled in hand-to-hand combat wouldn't be of much use while driving, the military factored these conditions into their selection process from the start.
Bai E, whose driving abilities shown during battlefield rescues were limited and mainly chosen for his shooting skills, did not enjoy any bonus points for his driving ability during the final scoring phase.
And even though four people in the vehicle could drive, apart from the main driver, the others were just making up numbers. Knowing how to drive and being proficient were two different things, as had been evident during the critical moments in the Blood Raven Forest, where any other driver would likely have resulted in an overturn.
It was different now on the plains with flat terrain, where the Asian got his hands on the steering wheel and began to show the more unrestrained part of his personality.
Listening to his lively humming, the atmosphere in the vehicle was relaxed. The elegant and pristine natural environment without any hidden dangers was undeniably refreshing—
The stone-faced AB, holding a machine gun by the window, looked out at the scenery rushing by and a smile played on his lips.
Lao Yi relaxed on the spot, the composed veteran joined Morton in tidying up the somewhat messy supplies in the vehicle due to the prior chaos.
Bai E pretended to rest for a while, then began to check and maintain his weapon. Regular maintenance is essential for a firearm to remain in pristine condition.
[You have completed maintenance on the target, restoring 2 points of durability.]
[You have completed maintenance, "Firearm Maintenance" experience +3.]
[Current "Firearm Maintenance" experience 98/300, at 300 points you will master "Level 2 Firearm Maintenance".]
It's been a while since I've gone back to my old trade, my enchanting plan!
Bai E calmly reached out to Morton walking by, "Your gun."
"What do you need my gun for?"
Though puzzled, Morton still handed over his machine gun to Bai E.
When it came to shooting, he admitted the kid had something.
Of course, that's where it ended… In terms of overall ability, the kid was surely lacking, and the superior's decision not to choose him was proof. He was firm in that belief!
Bai E took the machine gun and casually explained, "It felt a bit off when I used it earlier. I'll check it for you."
Experience +3
"Brother up front, I'll check your gun too,",
The jovial Asian driver replied, "Sure, go ahead."
Experience +3
"And yours?"
When asked, AB tightened his grip on his machine gun, "Mine doesn't need it."
He knew how to do it himself.
As their service time increased, many soldiers would take the initiative to learn things they were interested in during their downtime. The standard craft of maintaining firearms wasn't unique to Bai E.
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Some people are willing to help others, while some only look out for themselves, or simply have no energy for social interactions.
"Oh~"
Bai E didn't really care either way since he had netted 6 points of experience, definitely not a loss.
His heart buoyant, he suddenly froze, a familiar sensation creating turmoil within.
What was happening?
With a suspicious glance, Bai E unconsciously looked out the window, wanting to pinpoint the source of the feeling that seemed to make his heart skip a beat.
After barely two seconds of frowning scrutiny, Bai E's gaze sharply dropped to the ground below—
Plants?
No! Lower!
Underground!
Getting closer...
Getting closer...
"Swoosh swoosh swoosh~"
In a few moments of blurred consciousness, the imagery of dark brown earth and stones rapidly swept by his vision.
Bai E pressed a hand to his throbbing temple, trying to pinpoint the precise origin of the target.
In the next moment, Bai E was startled and leapt towards the front, towards the direction of the cockpit.
"Move aside!"
Almost simultaneously, the co-pilot responsible for navigation gazed at a slight bulge in the grass about ten meters in front of the vehicle, a fleeting thought crossed his mind: "What is that?"
All of this happened in the blink of an eye—
Watching the AB who was staring blankly out of the window suddenly become fierce, Morton, perplexed, watched as Bai E threw himself forward, and the main driver, who was lying asleep, had drool at the corner of his mouth...
"Whoosh!"
A colossal creature burst out from underground, its ferocious iron claws stretching out in the sunlight.
The startled driver, an Asian warrior, jerked the steering wheel hard in an attempt to dodge the body that was shooting up from the earth.
The sharp turn of the vehicle, combined with the disruption of soil and stones caused by the wurm breaking the surface, caused the off-road vehicle skimming past the creature's body to tip sharply, almost tilting at an angle of around 30 degrees.
Everything inside the vehicle that wasn't secured instantly flew around, and the main driver lying in the back was thrown into mid-air.
However, the first wurm that emerged from the soil was merely an appetizer. Ahead on the plains, many more wurms seemed to have an agreement to stretch their limbs at the same time, breaking through the ground like bamboo shoots after rain.
Bai E, who had already lunged towards the cockpit, glanced at them. Their bodies were flat, resembling scorpions or centipedes, with blades like knife edges on either side of their bodies. Their heads were equipped with drilling apparatus resembling the mouthparts of worms, convenient for burrowing.
The part of the creatures that protruded above ground was at least twice the height of the vehicle, with a length of six to seven meters definitely possible, and with sections of their bodies still underground, a conservative estimate of their size would be over ten meters.
Were they native species of this planet that he had yet to learn about?
Or rather, wurms!
None of the information he had received mentioned the existence of these creatures, but Bai E felt that the things that had suddenly appeared before his eyes must be wurms!
He roughly knew what the vague "hint" he had received beforehand was... it came from the "Wurm Nest Will" that had lain dormant within him!
A slight resonance made Bai E suddenly become aware of their existence, but were they here for him, or simply stretching their bodies?
Nobody knew.