Chapter 386 Selection Game 16

The four of them ventured farther out, but still found nothing. The surroundings were completely barren—nothing but stones beneath a red sky and upon red soil. The desolation was unsettling.

Just then, Perry Yates suddenly felt a fluctuation in the spiritual power she had sent out.

The next second, a layer of ice-blue armor covered all of them. It was immediately followed by the sharp clang of metal on metal.

Rory Drake and the other two were startled by the sudden noise, immediately realizing an enemy was near.

While deploying the War God Armor, Perry Yates also activated two other Skills: Cold Moon Guardian and Ice and Snow World.

Cold Moon Guardian wasn’t just for defense; it could also trap enemies. Ice and Snow World, on the other hand, could force invisible foes out of hiding.

So, even with the enemy in a state of Invisibility, the snowflakes drifting down from the sky clearly outlined its form.

It was a creature over a meter tall, with an insect-like body, a massive head resembling a lobster’s, a pair of long antennae, and two enormous pincers on either side of its torso.

Those giant pincers were what had just attacked them.

Jared Yate examined the marks left on his War God Armor. There were deep gashes on both the front and back of the chest plate.

Looking at the creature’s massive pincers, he could imagine that without the War God Armor, he would have been sliced in half.

They knew the War God Armor came from a five-star card. For this mysterious, invisible creature to leave such deep marks on it showed just how tremendously powerful it was.

The moment the mysterious creature appeared, Perry Yates had Safety Steward 001 scan it.

Until now, all the players they had encountered had been a motley crew of bizarre shapes and forms. But they all shared one common trait: their bodies were covered in armor, either fully or partially.

But this mysterious creature was clearly different.

While it was also covered in something resembling armor, it looked more like a natural insectoid exoskeleton than manufactured metal plating.

Moreover, despite its Invisibility, Perry Yates could feel its gaze—a gaze completely different from that of an Executor. It wasn’t the look of a Hunter, but of a predator.

Just then, the mysterious creature attacked again. It moved with lightning speed, appearing before Rory Drake in the blink of an eye. A pincer snapped open and shut, and the next second, Rory Drake was sent flying.

Its speed was astounding.

Rory Drake’s body slammed heavily against the barrier wall with a dull thud. Cracks even appeared on his War God Armor.

Under these circumstances, Rory Drake’s War God Armor certainly wouldn’t withstand another attack like that. Perry Yates acted quickly, replacing his armor with a fresh set and reinforcing her own and the other two members’ armor.

Meanwhile, her three companions spread out, preparing to surround the mysterious creature.

Just then, Safety Steward 001’s scan completed.

[Name: Phase Shrimp

Description: A mysterious insect native to the Desolate Lands. It can achieve an Invisibility effect by altering its cellular structure and possesses extreme speed for rapidly closing in on prey. The two antennae on its head allow it to accurately pinpoint a target’s location, while its two immensely powerful pincers can deliver a fatal blow.]

After reading it, Perry Yates quickly relayed the information about the Phase Shrimp to the others.

Hearing this, Jared Yate couldn’t help but comment, "We were just saying how desolate this place is, and then a local decides to pop up."

And a powerful one, at that.

Then, Perry Yates announced another piece of information: the Phase Shrimp’s meat was edible, and it tasted just like real lobster.

Hearing that it was edible, Jared Yate and the other member, who had been frowning, and Rory Drake, who had already scrambled to his feet and rejoined the battle, all had their eyes light up in an instant.

Since entering the game, they had managed to avoid starvation, but they hadn’t eaten a single proper meal.

It was either foul-tasting nutrient potions or even fouler-tasting Energy Bars.

While both items could quickly replenish their energy, eating them was far from a pleasant experience. It wasn’t just unpleasant; it was like having one’s taste buds relentlessly assaulted.

As for the Executors they’d defeated, even though they were once players, their current forms weren’t human. So, technically, they were edible without any psychological burden. The problem was, the system forbade it.

That’s right, the system simply wouldn’t allow it. It considered such an act a form of cannibalism, and anyone caught would be instantly eliminated.

So, the sudden knowledge that there was something edible—something that was meat and tasted like lobster—right in front of them changed everything.

Now, the way they looked at the Phase Shrimp was no longer with fear, terror, or caution. Instead, their eyes shone with excitement—the excitement of an impending meat feast.

"A body this big should be enough for several people," Rory Drake said.

The Phase Shrimp was fast, but it was ultimately trapped by Perry Yates’s Skill. It couldn’t escape, its movements were severely restricted, and it was taking continuous damage from the snow and ice, causing it to slow down more and more.

As for Perry Yates and her team, the War God Armor protected them, making them immune to the damage from the freezing temperatures.

After a half-hour battle of attrition, the Phase Shrimp finally lost the ability to fight. Its remaining stamina was no longer enough to sustain its Invisibility, and its true form was revealed.

Its entire body glowed with a brilliant purple luster, shining brightly even without any sunlight.

However, they were in no mood to admire it. After being out for so long and fighting such a long battle, they were all starving.

There was only one Phase Shrimp, which wouldn’t be enough to share if they took it back, so they decided to deal with it on the spot. It was their group’s kill, after all; they had every right to it.

Right then and there, the group used their Skills to cook the Phase Shrimp.

After being subjected to the high heat, its purple shell turned red, much like the seafood from Cerulea.

Perry Yates held her piece of the meat. After seeing the others take a bite, she cautiously took one herself. Instantly, a unique, special flavor filled her mouth, making her eyes light up. ’This is delicious! It’s just like the lobster I used to eat... no, it’s even better.’