Chapter 51 "Invincible Tomato

Chapter 51: Chapter 50: "Invincible Tomato

Next, Lin Qianqian briefly relayed the news Vice President Wang had brought back yesterday.

"After a joint discussion among over a dozen elite Awakened from the association yesterday, everyone decided to organize an elite squad. Led by Chairman Wu himself, they will head to the Bailu Port berth area for the first scouting mission.

"The goal is only to confirm the environment at the path’s entrance, the distribution of monsters, and the activity range of that Leader monster. They won’t venture deep into the core for now. The dozen or so strongest people in the association are all going."

Observing Han Ning’s reaction, she continued, "Your strength is formidable. If you join, the certainty and safety of this operation will increase significantly. What do you think? Will you consider it?"

Han Ning fell silent.

He was currently just over three hundred growth progress points away from breaking through to Level 5. Steadily hunting monsters on the outskirts was both safe and highly efficient, so why take such a risk?

Moreover, aside from Lin Qianqian, he didn’t know anyone else in the association at all. They had zero teamwork and zero trust.

After a few seconds of silence, he asked, "How does Chairman Wu’s strength compare to mine?"

"In terms of overall ability, he’s a bit weaker than you. The main reason Chairman Wu is the chairman is his management skills. When it comes to combat power, the chairman and the vice president are actually about the same, just with different focuses in their abilities," Lin Qianqian replied.

Hearing this, Han Ning shook his head and politely declined. "I feel like I’m not far from a breakthrough, so I want to hone my skills in a relatively safe area for a few days. I... won’t be participating in this operation. Are you guys in such a hurry? Can’t you wait a bit longer?"

"Sigh... We can’t wait. Didn’t I just say it? The monsters in the core Fog Area are growing stronger almost every day.

"The sooner we grasp the situation, the more initiative we’ll have."

There wasn’t the slightest hint of disappointment or dissatisfaction on Lin Qianqian’s face. Her tone remained calm as she said, "To go or not is your freedom, and I respect your choice. It’s just that I won’t be able to go to the Fog Area with you today to practice our teamwork."

"What about Yu Na? Is she going?"

Lin Qianqian understood what Han Ning meant and replied, "Yu Na isn’t going this time. She still lacks combat experience and will stay at the base. If you want to continue exploring the Fog Area, you can take her with you."

"Understood." Han Ning nodded.

"Then that’s it. I still have to prepare for the expedition." Lin Qianqian didn’t say anything more. She turned and walked up to the second floor, brisk and decisive.

***

In the morning, at the south entrance of the Fog Area, approaching a depth of about 300 meters.

White mist churned, and visibility was less than ten meters. Han Ning and Yu Na walked one after the other, advancing cautiously through the thick fog. Snow Cake swam at the very front. Its massive body was half-submerged in the water, scanning the surroundings vigilantly. A ring of Spirit Barrier rippled like water waves around Yu Na’s body.

Considering they only had five Red Mist Tomatoes, Han Ning didn’t want to waste them on ordinary Mirage Insects. Furthermore, without Lin Qianqian’s Energy replenishment, the duration of Yu Na’s Spirit Barrier was very short. Therefore, as soon as Han Ning entered the entrance, he drove straight in, immediately plunging to a depth of 300 meters.

"Front left. There’s an abnormal disturbance in the water currents," Yu Na suddenly issued a low-voiced warning. Her eyes were covered with a faint blue halo, as if they could pierce through the dense fog. "It’s huge... It’s a Vortex Shell Crab, just one, and it’s approaching."

"Good! Snow Cake, draw its attention."

"ROAR!" Snow Cake let out a provocative roar. Its thick tail fiercely slapped the water’s surface, splashing up a large spray. It no longer concealed its massive body, accelerating toward the direction Yu Na had indicated, deliberately making a huge commotion. It raised its claw and hurled a glass bottle filled with diluted ink, which Han Ning had prepared in advance.

The murky water currents fluctuated violently.

SPLASH!

A transparent figure stained with ink broke through the dense fog and appeared ahead. It was exactly the Vortex Shell Crab.

This Vortex Shell Crab was even larger than the ones they had hunted yesterday. Its body width almost exceeded one meter, making it look like a miniature tank. A pair of hard pincers spun at high speed, and dangerous electric sparks danced on its eel-like tail.

"HISS!" Enraged by Snow Cake’s provocation, the Vortex Shell Crab turned its pincers, and a condensed, high-pressure Water Cannon blasted out.

Snow Cake was well-prepared. With a death roll, it narrowly dodged to the side and evaded the water pillar. The Water Cannon grazed its scales and blasted into a half-sunken concrete pillar behind it, sending crushed stones flying.

"HISS!" Failing to land a hit, the Vortex Shell Crab opened its mouth and let out an angry screech.

At the same time, Han Ning made his move. He cast Natural Blessing, briefly enhancing his Spirit Perception and Purification Ability.

[Natural Blessing (Basic Level) Skill Level +1, Current 33/200]

Before his eyes, the white body of the Vortex Shell Crab was outlined by a ring of green light particles. He reached into his waist pouch with lightning speed, grabbing a Red Mist Tomato and wrapping it in vines.

"Go!"

SWISH!

The vine wrapped around the Red Mist Tomato shot right into the Vortex Shell Crab’s open mouth. The creature’s attention was completely captivated by the agile Snow Cake. Coupled with the extremely fast speed of the thrown vine, it only had time to subconsciously snap its pincers shut.

CRACK!

The vine was severed by the sharp edges of the chelae, but the dark red tomato inside rolled into the Vortex Shell Crab’s gaping mouth under its own momentum.

"GULP..." The Vortex Shell Crab seemed to choke on this sudden "food" and instinctively made a swallowing motion.

The tomato rolled down into its body. Time seemed to freeze for a moment. Only for a second or two.

BUZZ!

A faint red mist, so thick it seemed almost tangible, gushed out from the Vortex Shell Crab’s open mouth, eyes, and every single crevice of its carapace. Just like the red smoke from an airdrop in PUBG, it didn’t rise into the air; instead, it churned and billowed all around the creature’s body.

"HISS... CLACK?" The Vortex Shell Crab let out a bizarre hiss.

Its body, covered by a heavy grayish-white carapace, flushed with an unnatural redness at a visible rate. Especially at the joint connections and the relatively fragile abdominal shell, it became as red as a cooked crab.

Its giant drill-like pincers, which had been spinning at high speed, unknowingly ground to a halt. The electric sparks jumping on its eel tail flickered violently due to its master’s emotions.

At this moment, it was like a drunk brute, swaying and staggering back and forth in place. Its thick, sturdy limbs haphazardly pawed at the mud on the waterbed. It attempted to raise a front pincer, only to lose its balance and fall sideways into the pooled water with a HONG LONG, splashing up a massive wave.

It struggled to get up, but its movements were weak and limp, having completely lost its coordination.

"HISS... ROAR?" Even Snow Cake was dumbfounded. It stopped in its tracks, its yellow vertical pupils filled with confusion.

"What did you feed it?" Yu Na’s mouth was slightly agape, utterly astonished.

"The effect is this potent? Looks like it doesn’t even take a whole tomato," Han Ning himself was a bit surprised. The effect of the Red Mist Tomato far exceeded his expectations. He hesitated no longer and immediately controlled his vines.

SWISH SWISH SWISH!

Over a dozen vines shot out, smoothly slipping into the crevices of the Vortex Shell Crab’s carapace. Throughout the entire process, the Vortex Shell Crab remained completely oblivious.

SHUNK SHUNK SHUNK SHUNK!

Under Han Ning’s precise Spiritual Power control, the tips of the tough vines erupted with terrifying Penetration Power. Without any resistance, they pierced through the weak points of the carapace and plunged deeply into the relatively soft internal tissues of the Vortex Shell Crab.

[Vine Technique (High Level) Skill Level +2, Current 40/500]

The Vortex Shell Crab seemed to have a dulled sense of pain. It merely let out a vague, sleep-talking whimper, its body twitching a few times purely symbolically. The vines that had burrowed into the Vortex Shell Crab’s body twisted and mangled frantically.

[Vine Technique (High Level) Skill Level +1, Current 41/500]

"HISS... CLACK!"

In just a few seconds, the Vortex Shell Crab went completely limp and stopped moving. That layer of unnatural redness quickly faded, leaving only a cold, grayish-white carapace floating on the murky water. The permeating red mist also gradually scattered into the dense white fog.

WHOOSH!

A cluster of blue-white light, much larger than those from the ordinary Vortex Shell Crabs they had hunted before, floated out of the corpse. It split into two; the larger portion sank into Han Ning’s body, while the smaller portion flew toward Yu Na.

[Druid Growth Progress +105] (Current Level 4, 332/600)

[Mental Power +0.15] (Mental Power: 1.13)

[Swamp Crocodile Lizard Growth Progress +20] (Current 91/200)

An abundant warm current dissolved within his body, nourishing both his physical form and Spirit.

Looking at the jumping numbers on the panel and feeling the obvious increase in his Mental Power, Han Ning couldn’t help but let the corners of his mouth turn up slightly.

"So comfortable!

"The effect of the Red Mist Tomato is way too potent. Isn’t this practically invincible?

"Ptui, ptui, ptui!"

Thinking of the last guy who called himself invincible and had already lost his ability to think, Han Ning immediately shook his head, trying to throw out the thought that had just formed.