Laser Gun

Its outer skin was completely intact.

But the bullet had clearly hurt it. It let out a roar and charged at them at full speed.

It held grudges.

Aside from eating, only hatred could drive it to move like this.

As it drew closer, the ground began to tremble violently, as if some giant beast was churning beneath the surface.

Tu Ran dodged away.

Her movements were so swift that everyone in front of the screens was stunned.

By now, everyone knew her as Tu Ran—the gifted student the instructors couldn't stop praising, the legend of the training center.

Everyone assumed she was about to make a move, showing off some flashy technique. Instead, she ran.

"She's fast," someone remarked, drawing murmurs of agreement.

Apart from Tu Ran, all the Pioneers within the monster's target range scattered as well.

This creature might have tough flesh and immense strength, but it was slow. As long as the Pioneers didn't provoke it, it couldn't even touch the hem of their clothes.

"Why is everyone running? Attack!" Someone in the meeting room grew restless.

"What's wrong with these people? All timid and hesitant! At this rate, when will they ever kill this gene monster? They might as well let us go! We'd finish it off in no time!"

The people around him didn't even spare him a glance.

This man was known for his bragging; he had no real skill but loved to criticize others.

"If you want to go, then go yourself—don't drag us along!" Someone retorted sarcastically.

"I would go, but Zero won't let me out!"

"Tsk..." A wave of mocking laughter rippled around him.

The man clenched his fists in anger but dared not say another word.

...

Tu Ran circled back behind the other Pioneers, quietly observing the battle.

"Everyone, move aside."

A cool, feminine voice suddenly rang out.

Tu Ran looked toward the source—it was Yao Bei.

In the Regaken State operation, she had been in the same Fourth Squad, someone Tu Ran had hoped to cozy up to but never managed.

The big shot had also been lingering at the periphery, holding a strangely shaped firearm.

The barrel was thick, the body sleek, and the deep blue exterior with its minimalist design gave the whole weapon a very advanced look.

A laser gun.

Its damage output was extremely high, and it was a rare firearm across the entire Federation.

Not only the second-generation Pioneers in the meeting room, but even the first-generation Pioneers present were utterly shocked.

All eyes were fixed on the laser gun, unable to look away.

After all, out of a thousand-strong Pioneer Team, only three laser guns were in circulation.

Every application to use one required a detailed report submitted to the relevant departments for review; the process was cumbersome and often ended in rejection.

Everyone had subconsciously assumed those three laser guns were simply unaffordable.

To suddenly see someone holding one now left them all gaping in astonishment.

"If you had a laser gun, why didn't you use it earlier?" muttered the man who'd started with the Erlest 700 pistol, Liu Quanye.

But Yao Bei still heard him.

She cast a sideways glance at him. "I just arrived."

Liu Quanye: "...No wonder I hadn't seen you earlier."

Yao Bei didn't bother acknowledging him further. She raised the laser gun, focused on the monster's back, and took aim.

She pulled the trigger, and a blinding blue laser beam shot forth like a pillar of blue fire, plunging silently into the creature's body.

In an instant, the monster threw its head back and shrieked.

Everyone covered their ears.

The shooting didn't stop.

The monster rolled and dodged, but the laser tracked it relentlessly, searing it and making it hop about in pain. Eventually, it had no choice but to curl up into a ball, presenting its hardest back to block the laser's assault.

After three more shots, the energy gauge beside the laser gun showed only half its power remained.

The woman released the trigger.

By then, the monster was still curled up, its back bearing only faint scorch marks.

"How is that possible?!" Everyone was stunned.

So far, nothing had ever withstood a laser gun—including all kinds of alien creatures. No matter how impenetrable their skin was, they were all pushovers before a laser.

Yet this gene monster, evolved from a human who drank the miracle drug, could actually resist laser fire.

Then what could possibly slice through its skin?!

Back at the edge of the crowd, Tu Ran thought: obviously my Landslide! It could tear that skin open without a problem.

Too bad she couldn't use it!

So they'd have to resort to the most crude method.

"Everyone, work together! Throw the bombs into its mouth!" Tu Ran said.

Someone raised an objection. "It's not stupid—it won't swallow just anything! And if it spits them out, we're the ones who'll suffer!"

"I agree! Let's notify the Executive Department to send heavy mechs! No matter how tough its skin is, a heavy mech can easily handle it."

Tu Ran's gaze swept the area and noticed that quite a few people shared that view.

Huh? Weren't they just now trying to outdo each other? Why were they suddenly so cowardly?

She took a step back and leaned lazily against the edge of a table.

If they were going to slack off, she could too!

Why should she risk her life when they wouldn't?

Let everyone slack together.

The scene fell silent; no one moved, including the monster curled into a ball.

Some people exchanged uneasy glances.

Actually, they thought Tu Ran's suggestion wasn't bad—it was worth trying.

Liu Quanye was the first to get fed up. He bellowed, "You cowards! You actually have the nerve to show up at someone's graduation ceremony!"

"You can't even kill a single monster without relying on the Executive Department's mechs! I'm embarrassed just waiting here for the mechs with you!"

He turned to Tu Ran. "Hey..."

He leaned in to glance at her nameplate.

"Tu Ran! I'm with you! You call the shots! How do we get it to open its mouth? I don't mind being bait—that thing probably hates me plenty right now."

Yao Bei, still holding the laser gun, also chimed in: "I've already used half my charge. I won't rest until we finish it off! If they want to wait for the mechs, fine—we'll do it ourselves first!"

Min Tao stepped forward too. "Tu Ran, you decide. I'll follow you. We can't lose face for the Pioneers."

One by one, more people came forward, saying they'd rather follow Tu Ran and shove the bombs down the monster's throat than wait around for the Executive Department's mechs to do what the Pioneers should be doing.

The few who'd spoken up earlier wore grim expressions.

Now they looked like a bunch of spineless cowards.

"Fine! Let's do it! Who's afraid of who?" they shouted.

The crowd's morale soared.

Tu Ran, who hadn't spoken until then, straightened up and said calmly, "I don't have a plan. Just act like before. As long as we get the bomb into its mouth, the job's done."

"Yeah!"

The crowd echoed in unison, fixing their sights on the gene monster curled into a ball.

Watching it huddle there like an egg, everyone suddenly found themselves at a loss.