Volume One: Planet of Ten Thousand Beasts Chapter 20: Black Bear

“Looking forward to working with you!” Li Juxu spoke with profound respect. He had once undertaken a mission to kill blood wolves and knew all too well how terrifying they were. Their team of eight would only dare to face three blood wolves at once; encountering five or six usually meant retreating. For Lynx not only to escape but also to kill three blood wolves in return—such skill was truly formidable.

“Don’t be fooled by Black Hornet; he’s flattering me. In truth, I lost half my life that time, lying in the hospital for a full six months, nearly meeting my ancestors. If only I’d had a sniper. Last night, I saw you shoot—quite composed,” Lynx’s eyes were sharp.

The two shook hands, exchanged a few compliments, and thus became acquainted.

“I have something to say,” Black Hornet’s smile faded, his expression turning serious. “Some things were hard to reveal before, but now there’s no need for secrecy. Our wealthy employer has assigned the Red-Spotted Crown Spider mission twice before. The first time, fifteen went in, only two returned; the employer himself went in then. The second time, twenty-six entered; I joined that group. Only eight made it back alive—I was one of the lucky eight. Now, this is the third attempt.”

Lynx and Li Juxu’s faces darkened without realizing it. They had thought the mission merely difficult, but the reality exceeded their expectations.

“Among the eight survivors, only two others besides me remained unharmed; the other five ended up hospitalized. I never saw them again. Those two took their pay and refused to continue. I wanted to leave too, but some family matters arose, and the employer helped me sort them out. I’m telling you this to emphasize the mission’s danger,” Black Hornet explained.

“Where exactly does the danger lie?” Lynx voiced the question on Li Juxu’s mind.

“Mosquitoes!”

“Mosquitoes?” Lynx’s eyes widened in disbelief, and Li Juxu was equally taken aback.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” Black Hornet said, pulling three egg-sized spheres from his backpack. Pressing a button, the spheres transformed dramatically into helmets. He donned one and handed the other two to Li Juxu and Lynx, who quickly put them on.

The helmets were light and thin, capable of filtering air and regulating temperature and humidity comfortably without muffling sound. Despite appearing simple, each cost over two hundred thousand.

“Any exposed skin must be covered—otherwise, you’ll regret it,” Black Hornet warned, meticulously checking himself before setting off. Li Juxu and Lynx followed suit.

—

“Ahhh—” A piercing scream shattered the forest’s silence, grating and unnatural. Li Juxu jolted, realizing the sound was nearby. Unspoken, the three dashed toward the source, arriving swiftly—only to find others had beaten them there.

“...Help me... please... save me...” A man lay on the ground, begging desperately. His face was an unnatural pale blue, limbs trembling uncontrollably. Two small puncture wounds bled faint yellow fluid—one on his neck, another on the back of his hand. Nearby lay the crushed corpses of two gray-spotted crown spiders.

Within seconds, the man’s complexion darkened further—from pale blue to black. Li Juxu glanced at Black Hornet, who quietly shook his head—there was no saving him.

Footsteps echoed again as more people, alerted by the screams, hurried over. They were shocked to see the bitten man’s voice fading rapidly; within minutes, he slipped into unconsciousness, life ebbing swiftly.

“Let’s move on,” Black Hornet sighed. Though strangers, they were a team, and losing one was always regrettable.

“How can the venom be so potent? Even a poisonous snake wouldn’t act this fast,” Lynx muttered in alarm, noting the rapid decline—from screams to unconsciousness in under ten minutes.

“That’s why you must never let a gray-spotted crown spider bite you,” Black Hornet emphasized gravely.

“What if it happens by accident?” Lynx asked.

“If it’s on a limb, don’t hesitate—cut it off. You lose the limb, but you keep your life. If it’s on your neck... well, you might as well give yourself a quick end,” Black Hornet said bluntly.

“I noticed a few small red spots on that man’s face. Those weren’t from the spider’s bite, right?” Li Juxu suddenly spoke.

—

“Night Owl, you have a keen eye. That’s right—they weren’t caused by the spider. Those spots came from mosquito bites. The mosquitoes here aren’t lethal on their own but transmit a neurotoxin that paralyzes. After being bitten, your reaction slows drastically, and your body releases a certain scent that attracts the gray-spotted crown spiders. Once bitten by a mosquito, you quickly become a target for the spiders’ attack. So beware mosquitoes as much as spiders,” Black Hornet stressed.

“We’re all wrapped up like dumplings now. Shouldn’t be a problem, right?” Lynx joked.

“Who knows?” Black Hornet admitted inwardly. Known dangers were mosquitoes and spiders; unknown threats were far scarier.

“Something’s up!” Li Juxu suddenly whispered, voice low.

Black Hornet and Lynx froze instantly, eyes sharp, scanning all directions. Their bodies tensed, ready to strike.

“Ten o’clock, about 110 meters away, on the third branch of a tree the size of three men’s embrace,” Li Juxu quietly said, unstrapping the Blaster-002B sniper rifle from his back.

A dark silhouette lurked there. The forest’s shadows obscured details, but the shape suggested a large cat—perhaps a leopard or tiger.

“This noise is too loud!” Black Hornet stopped him. A sniper shot from the Blaster-002B would alert everything within a two- or three-kilometer radius, causing chaos. He signaled to Lynx, who understood. The two split left and right, stealthily approaching the shadow.

Lynx’s slender frame and nimble movements were expected, but Black Hornet’s large size moved silently too, impressing Li Juxu. Black Hornet’s formidable reputation was well-earned.

Thirty meters... twenty meters... ten meters... When they were within three meters of the shadow, they suddenly froze. Li Juxu sensed danger immediately. Before he could react, the shadow shot down like lightning from the branch.

Bang!

Over a hundred meters away, Li Juxu’s ears rang from the impact. Black Hornet was launched like a cannonball over twenty meters, crashing through several plants on the way.

Bang—