Mechanical Alchemist

The "Mutated Strong Acid Worm" was also an unencountered mutated monster; if it wasn't for the All-knowing Eye detecting the creature's habits, Su Lun wouldn't have had any doubts.

But now that he knew, doubts sprang to his mind.

It was clearly a non-aggressive worm. Why did it fall out of its nest so suddenly?

"Without lethal threats, they generally do not leave their nest." This detailed explanation was particularly striking. What exactly threatened their lives?

Was it the academy's tutor trying to increase the trial's difficulty?

A sense of wrongness flashed through Su Lun's mind, but before he could think further, a group of students had already run out of the acid pool and were charging toward the tunnel entrance where he was hiding.

....

"Oh, it's disgusting; this snot-like slime almost made me vomit my breakfast."

"Damn it! What kind of bugs are these, and why have I never heard of them before..."

"Can someone help me wash off the slime on my clothes? I feel like I can't breathe..."

"..."

The students abandoned their mechanical shields and some heavy equipment, running over with disgust, each covered in green slime, looking very bedraggled.

However, these worms were clearly just an appetizer.

Su Lun's gaze was grave as he stared into the depths of the corridor, searching for something. He hadn't forgotten the remark that 'adults are highly aggressive' mentioned in the notes about the worms.

If this place was the larvae's nest, then the adult creatures must be nearby!

Assistant tutor Rosa seemed to realize this as well. She stopped those students who wanted to strip off their combat suits on the spot, saying, "Everyone, be careful, the next wave of monsters might be coming! All of you, release your Alchemical Equipments, prepare for battle!"

At this command, those students who hadn't released their Equipments immediately activated the alchemy formations beneath their feet. What followed was a dazzling display of various elaborate Alchemical Equipments, which were like a high-end exhibition, blinding Su Lun, the outsider with titanium alloy eyes.

"Diamond Dragon Skin," "Magma Demon's Flame Core," "Thunder Serpent's Eye," "Rampaging Beast's Demon Muscles"...and one familiar Equipment, the Cross Society's "Thousand Killing Wings!"

The complexity of the alchemy formation on the ground was indicative of the levels of the Alchemical Equipments: magical, physical, functional... and not a single Black Iron Equipment!

All sorts of Silver Equipments that Su Lun had only seen in pictures in "The Complete Encyclopedia of Alchemical Equipments," and even several students seemed to be equipped with suspected Gold Equipments.

Once the Alchemical Equipments were released, the whole team's momentum changed instantly.

(Note: Equipments consume dark spiritual power, and low-rank practitioners can't maintain them for long.)

"..."

Su Lun looked at these students, his gaze slightly pausing.

He had gone broke just obtaining a Gold Equipment blueprint, and he had yet to acquire the main materials. Yet, these students, who hadn't even graduated, were easily equipped with the most top-notch Equipments.

However, having witnessed the luxurious equipment of this group of rich kids along the way, he was no longer surprised by now.

Of course, there were always some exceptions among this group of haughty little lions.

Rosa's words made everyone realize the gravity of the situation, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

Just then, Su Lun felt a gaze from the crowd targeting him again.

Turning his head, he saw little fatty Charlie casting a weak plea for help, as if to say: See, I told you it was dangerous. Brother, you should understand~

Almost all the students had released their Alchemical Equipments, but the ones at the tail end of fatty's team...had not.

It wasn't that they didn't want to, but rather, they didn't have any.

The only one, overlooked by Su Lun, was a Black Iron Equipment "Mushroom Skull of the Iron-headed Dragon," a type that could enhance life-saving abilities but was extremely ugly.

Probably because their talents were too poor to merge with high-quality Equipments, they could only make do with these.

The rest of fatty's mates weren't even practitioners!

After all, money can assist in cultivation, but it can't completely replace it.

Advancing as a practitioner requires spiritual power to meet standards, which involves countless days and nights of strenuous meditation. For many, this is a grueling process, and the greater the desire to advance early, the higher the need for extreme self-discipline.

Clearly, little fatty Charlie wasn't the type who could discipline himself in cultivation.

Su Lun gave a wry smile but also nodded at fatty, who then turned his head away, reassured.

....

Clearly, Su Lun's worries were not unwarranted.

Rosa's reminder also helped the students avoid being caught off-guard again.

Soon after the white worms fell to the ground and shattered, it triggered a chain reaction.

Though no mutated monsters were seen, the deep, funnel-like holes above them suddenly emitted a dense and eerie "squeak squeak squeak" noise...

In this dark cavern, it made one's hair stand on end.

"Here they come!"

Su Lun's keen eyesight allowed him to spot the creatures before anyone else.

From the caverns previously dropping worms, suddenly, flying creatures that looked like bats or moths burst out.

"Mutated Meat-winged Moths"

Explanation: Mutated 'Blue-eyed Poison Moths' affected by the environment; although they are fragile, their mouthparts have strong armor-piercing capabilities and can inject a nerve paralyzing toxin that causes death; they are extremely sensitive to luminous objects and highly aggressive!

"Is this the mature form of that worm?"

Su Lun looked at the moth in the distance, about half a meter in size, with bat-like fleshy wings and a long proboscis, his expression slightly grave.

Without any hesitation, he immediately covered all the glowing and reflective items on him behind his coat.

Before he could warn anyone, the moths swooped down en masse.

At that moment, Assistant Rosa quickly approached Su Lun and kindly reminded, "Guide, don't stray too far from me."

This was a trial for the students, not a death sentence for the guide. Seeing Su Lun's "bare-bones" equipment, she naturally thought to help out a bit. It would be a shame if the guide died here just as the trial was beginning.

"Mhm."

Su Lun nodded, accepting her kindness, and replied, "Thank you."

Although the monsters were fast, in his left eye, he could clearly distinguish almost every moth that approached.

He didn't plan to draw his gun but instead reached for the two Nepalese kukris he had fashioned himself on his waist.

Knowing the moths were attracted to light, it was best not to use a gun. Otherwise, the light from the gunfire would surely attract more moths. Although he rarely displayed his close combat skills, Su Lun, with his "Intermediate Knifesmanship Mastery," was not weak in close combat!

....

Through the All-knowing Eye, Su Lun instantly knew about the monsters' phototactic instincts, but the students were unaware.

Moreover, their combat suits' energy symbols (to prevent friendly fire in the dark), along with the light from their implants and spells, made them walking light sources, impossible to hide.

In the darkness, they were glaringly conspicuous.

As the moths descended, they immediately swarmed towards the students.

Instantly, gunfire erupted, and a myriad of splendid spells were thrown at the swarm of monsters without regard for cost.

But this time, their "money power" seemed not to be so effective.

The previous battles had used up too much heavy equipment, some needed cooling, and some were left in the acidic residue...

Despite the concentrated fire killing a large number of moths, the sudden burst of light only made the swarm more "exhilarated."

They enveloped the entire team like a sandstorm in an instant.

Su Lun dared not get close to the students' group, opting instead to crouch in a dark corner. This was the students' trial, not his. Yet even so, he managed to slay several erratically flying moths nearby.

"These students are going to suffer now..."

Watching the students still using flame spells against the monsters, Su Lun knew this time their "money power" was definitely about to crash.

Experienced Scavengers know that dealing with mutated monsters isn't just about brute force; it also involves observing the monsters' habits. Finding the right tactic might turn a small resource into a great advantage; if they fail to find the right approach and face a counter ability, even high-level professionals could be killed by lower-tier monsters.

Just like now, the students were using flame spells on these light-sensitive moths. Regardless of how effective it was at killing, it certainly excelled at attracting the enemy.

These moths, upon seeing a light source, would rush over fearlessly and frenziedly!

Moreover, these flying monsters were much more agile than the previous land-based monsters.

Their all-round three-dimensional attacks made the students' defenses virtually useless.

Moreover, because the monsters possessed bat-like agility to dodge obstacles, the damage caused by firearms was extremely limited. Without sharpshooting skills, hitting them was almost out of the question.

...

"Captain Jack, what do we do?!"

"Damn it, these moths have blurred my vision, I can't aim properly. Hitting their wings is useless; if I can't hit their heads, I can't kill them!"

"What kind of monster is this, the more I burn with the flamethrower, the more they come. If we don't think of something soon, it's going to be bad!"

"..."

As the moth attack intensified, the students quickly felt their firearms becoming increasingly ineffective, and even the one known as "the first sharpshooter of the academy," Jack, failed repeatedly.

He had been full of confidence before, one shot per mutated monster, but now he couldn't even manage basic self-protection.

Su Lun watched from a distance and clicked his tongue.

This is the difference between target shooting and actual combat.

Jack had performed so well before because his teammates created a stable shooting environment for him. But now, harassed up close by the moths, his lack of real combat adaptability was immediately exposed.

....

After a while, the situation worsened.

"These guys should have learned 'Combat Observation.' They've suffered so much, yet they still haven't realized these moths are attracted to light sources?"

Su Lun watched, occasionally frowning.

They were equipped with top-tier gear, implants, skills, and knowledge, but their adaptability was too poor, completely lacking real combat experience. Faced with unknown monsters, they were immediately confused.

Originally, Su Lun knew that a second-tier instructor was secretly following the academy, watching the students being beaten and fleeing in disarray, and he followed from a distance without offering any guidance.

But gradually, as the situation grew worse, he realized something was amiss.