Clearly, the other party was very dissatisfied with Li Ang's mockery. The half-man stuck to the moth's back began to scream incessantly, while the moth beneath him buzzed, its wings fluttering rapidly as it shook slightly in place. After adjusting its stance, it extended its spear-like tubular mouthpart and charged toward Li Ang with the force of a full-throttle motorcycle.
Three rifle bullets struck the moth's hemispherical head with precision, smashing the large lepidopteran insect's head into its chest cavity.
Its body trembled. It plunged downwards, crashing onto the corridor floor and rolling forward several times, carried by inertia.
As the moth died, the half-man's screams also grew faint.
Li Ang casually fired a bullet into his forehead. He then added a few more shots to the spine and neck to silence him completely.
Wanli Fengdao's brow furrowed. This isn't good...
Ordinarily, monsters that appeared so early in a scenario were usually "starter" monsters, meant to help players adapt to the mission's difficulty and understand the background of the scenario world. Their strength was generally kept at a level that was "somewhat troublesome but could be quickly resolved."
This oversized moth, while hideously terrifying in appearance, possessed negligible actual combat prowess, not just to players. Even an ordinary person, with some training and armed with a Metal Spear, could easily take it down.
Li Ang stood still, observing for a moment. After confirming the moth no longer moved, he stepped forward and used a steel rod to lift the moth, inspecting it briefly.
"This is an American White Moth, a species from the Arctiidae family. Normally, their body length is around 9-12mm. For it to grow this large..."
Li Ang stated with a serious expression, "It must have eaten 'Growth Happiness,' my favorite."
Should I serenade you with 'The Taste of Growth Happiness,' a flavor both the moth and you are dying to know?
Wanli Fengdao thought mockingly, but his face remained impassive.
He retrieved an ordinary Metal Spear from his backpack slot, gripping its rubber handle. From a distance, he used the spear tip to gently slice the connection between the half-man and the moth.
As the spear tip cut through, a viscous, multicolored pus sprayed out, staining the walls like a grotesque oil painting.
Despite wearing the Mask, Wanli Fengdao could vividly imagine the horrific stench of decay...
The half-man's innards and fluids gushed out, spreading across the ground. One could see that his abdominal cavity had grotesquely fused with the moth through a mass of bizarrely shaped fleshy organs.
"What in the Nine Hells is this thing..."
Wanli Fengdao muttered, watching as the tall and formidable Dusk Knight pulled out a T-shaped handheld radiation detector and swept it back and forth above the Mothman a few times.
"There's slight radiation in the air."
The Dusk Knight glanced at the moth. "Its radiation level is higher than the ambient air; it's a Class IV radiation source. However, it's not a species mutated naturally by radiation."
Wanli Fengdao's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"Because natural radiation couldn't create such a 'perfectly' formed creature," Li Ang explained indifferently. "Unlike what's depicted in movies and animation, 'genetic mutation' caused by nuclear radiation involves the brutal severing of DNA chains. It's not like an engineer precisely and stably rebuilding the genetic sequence. The vast majority of mutations are harmful and chaotic, leading to the rapid collapse of physiological functions in irradiated individuals. Even in sophisticated laboratories, using numerous test subjects and enduring lengthy experimental periods, it's incredibly difficult to induce mutations that result in such 'beautiful' creatures."
Wanli Fengdao stared, dumbfounded, at the hideous Mothman lying in the corridor. "You call this thing... beautiful?!"
Li Ang didn't waste words, taking the Metal Spear from Wanli Fengdao's hand. He used its tip to pry open the sides of the moth's abdomen.
"Insects are 'heartless and lungless' creatures; they breathe through spiracles on the sides of their bodies. Look, this moth's spiracles and internal, web-like tracheal system are merely proportionally enlarged. With the oxygen content in the air remaining constant, such a system cannot provide sufficient oxygen. It relies on the human torso fused to its back for respiration."
This design, utilizing another living being as an external respiratory device, was nothing short of ingenious and horrifyingly perverse.
Furthermore, Li Ang suspected the human portion on the moth's back wasn't solely for respiration; it might also serve to lure other humans by crying out for help...
Just like an anglerfish.
Li Ang paused, then continued, "Even if the desolate, ruined state of this place is due to nuclear war, the half-lives of radioactive elements from a nuclear explosion, ranging from a short 8 days to as long as 30 years, wouldn't allow for the lengthy induced mutation period required for such a creature to rapidly evolve a complete external respiratory system."
In short, the mutation induction period from a nuclear explosion is too brief, while the American White Moth's external respiratory system is too perfectly developed. Your support at * keeps the series going.
The Dusk Knight added in a timely manner, "If it were a Three-phase Bomb explosion, that could indeed cause long-term, widespread radioactive Pollution, providing an extended period for induced mutations. However, this hypothesis contradicts the lush vegetation observed on the streets."
Wanli Fengdao pondered for a moment, then summarized, "So, you're saying the city beneath us likely experienced a nuclear explosion that wasn't too severe, and this mutated creature isn't a product of radiation, but rather a meticulously engineered artificial creation?"
Li Ang nodded, his eyes clearly conveying the thought: Indeed, after just a few days apart, one must see you in a new light, kid.
Wanli Fengdao pouted, slightly annoyed, sensing Li Ang's mockery.
The Dusk Knight spoke solemnly, "Considering the three mission objectives, we can speculate that this mutated creature is the handiwork of Libra Company. If that's the case, Libra Company's bioengineering technology far surpasses that of our own world."
This was the crucial takeaway. Compared to weapons and equipment, the sophisticated technologies and systematized advanced knowledge within the scenario world were undoubtedly far more valuable. Knowledge is power; knowledge is wealth. The potential value of the yet-unseen Libra Company had clearly surpassed the three players' initial expectations.
But opportunity is invariably accompanied by danger. A company capable of creating such exquisitely engineered monstrosities could undoubtedly produce even more powerful creatures...
Wanli Fengdao stared at the half-human, half-moth corpse, his expression grim.
"Don't fret so much. This creature might simply be a product of natural genetic mutation," Li Ang consoled. "Our world has ghosts and zombies, doesn't it? Perhaps this world simply operates under a 'rapid biological genetic mutation' rule. For instance, a Caucasian couple who met and fell in love in school might end up having a black baby, or something along those lines..."