Volume 1: Chapter 46 Broken Teeth Collecting Biomass

　　In the icy and snowy Ursus tundra.

　　A team is marching in silence.

　　"The infected mine is located in this direction, Talulah."

　　Yelena held a map in her hand.

　　That was a map once published by the Ursus military, and it is undoubtedly outdated now.

　　However, there are many new marks written on it to mark the new places.

　　Military maps are always better than simple hand-drawn maps.

　　"Then there should be an infected patrol camp nearby, Yelena."

　　Talulah drew a circle around a certain symbol.

　　"We only had time to find this infected mine." The Carters girl put away the map. "After we liberate our compatriots, we will go find the infected patrol camp."

　　We must go there as soon as possible.

　　Who knows what outrageous things those Ursus scum will come up with next?

　　The mine where she used to work killed people by drawing lots.

　　Some of the infected in the guerrillas have experienced the Tundra Battle Royale, the Beast Rift Arena...

　　All we can say is that in this icy and snowy environment, those who commit violence have unreservedly demonstrated the bottom line of human nature.

　　“…”

　　The little insect swarm master heard what the two girls said.

　　He blinked.

　　"Broken Tooth, go this way, then like this, then like this, and finally like this."

　　Picking up the little Broken Tooth, Zerg quietly instructed his Zergling.

　　“Gah!”

　　Broken Tooth kept nodding his head, indicating that he understood the master's orders.

　　"Zerg, what are you doing?"

　　Kiana Kaslana leaned over curiously.

　　Although he really wanted to hold Zerg in his arms, the little swarm master insisted on walking by himself.

　　"Let Broken Tooth collect biomass!"

　　Zerg replied.

　　Well, let's see if we can gather and hide the biomass before Talulah does.

　　“What is biomass?”

　　Kiana was stunned.

　　"Hmm... the crystallization of organic matter contained in food?"

　　The little swarm leader thought for a moment and gave this answer.

　　"...I guess there won't be any food around here?"

　　Kiana Kaslana looked around.

　　In such a snowy land, there shouldn't be any plants that can produce edible fruits, right?

　　Even she knew that in winter, animals rarely showed up.

　　It would probably be difficult to obtain so-called biomass through hunting.

　　"Broken Tooth will be found!"

　　According to Talulah and Yelena, if we move in this direction, we will find the infected mine where there are large amounts of biomass and high-energy resources.

　　The mobility of springtails is enough to ignore obstacles and harsh terrain on the road.

　　This way, by the time Talulah arrives, Broken Tooth should have already hidden the biomass.

　　Later, when you mutate the worker bees into a hatchery, you will not lack the first resource for starting up!

　　"Hahaha, you really have confidence in Broken Tooth."

　　The white-haired ball touched the little child's head without thinking much about it.

　　“…”

　　Skadi probably knows what biomass is—

　　It should be the emerald green crystal that Zerg once took out.

　　A tiny crystal contains unimaginable energy.

　　Enough to make a tiny worker bee expand like a balloon into a huge building.

　　Recalling that scene, Skadi felt that all the laws of physics he had learned were thrown away.

　　I'm afraid the law of physics is about to collapse.

　　However, the emerald green crystal seemed to be made by Zerg eating food.

　　The deep-sea hunter thought silently.

　　“Gah!”

　　The small purple creature was thrown out by the swarm master.

　　Then--

　　It quickly disappeared into the ice and snow.

　　Talulah happened to witness this scene.

　　“What a fast speed.”

　　She couldn't help but sigh.

　　Such a small body, but it contains extremely powerful explosive power.

　　Is it a creature unique to Zerg's world?

　　And they can be domesticated into pets...

　　The dragon girl unconsciously began to think about where it could be used.

　　"What just ran past?"

　　Yelena only saw a purple afterimage running across the snow-white ground.

　　Just a blink of an eye -

　　It just disappeared.

　　"Broken Tooth ran away. He must have gone to help us scout the infected mines."

　　Talulah said as a matter of course.

　　"Broken tooth?"

　　Yelena was stunned.

　　"It's the creature that was squatting on Zerg's head earlier."

　　The dragon girl gazed into the distance.

　　Broken Tooth is no longer visible.

　　“…”

　　This one runs faster than Ursus's Rift Beast.

　　Yelena's heart trembled.

　　"Did something just run past you?"

　　"I seemed to vaguely see a purple afterimage."

　　"Did you see it?"

　　Among the advancing guerrillas, some soldiers couldn't help but start a discussion.

　　“…”

　　The Wendigo clenched his spear and shield.

　　Very fast.

　　Much faster than the Rift Beasts tamed by the Ursus military.

　　Moreover, its size is even smaller than that of the Rift Beast. If it were allowed to run into a mobile city with complex terrain, almost no one would be able to catch it.

　　If it is armed...

　　Patriot knew that this would make a very difficult weapon of war.

　　If the number is large——

　　Then the enemy will be forced to devote a lot of energy to eliminating these little guys.

　　Equip it with equipment for reconnaissance and it will become a scout that cannot be intercepted.

　　The battle-hardened Wendigo quickly figured out a variety of uses for it.

　　But it seems that no similar creatures have ever appeared on Terra before...

　　No, it seems a bit like those bugs.

　　Wendigo was once responsible for leading the troops to clear out the bugs that had not been evacuated from the mobile city.

　　It was a nightmare experience.

　　In the dark sewer, the sound of running could be heard from time to time, and screams suddenly sounded and then disappeared...

　　He silently grabbed his spear and shield.

　　But those bugs didn’t run as fast as the purple figure that just rushed out.

　　Glancing at the tiny child.

　　The purple figure must be the inseparable "friend" of the little figure.

　　Wendigo quickly retracted his gaze and calmed down his inner turmoil.

　　There is still some distance to the infected mine, and we expect to arrive there soon.

　　after--

　　He will march in and liberate his fellow infected people within.

　　…………

　　In the infected mine.

　　"Okay, the head is completely sealed."

　　An Ursus soldier wiped the sweat from his forehead.

　　Faint cries and curses could be heard coming from the other side.

　　"It's time for these infected scum to contribute their last bit of value to Ursus."

　　The leading Ursus officer snorted coldly.

　　The source stone in this mine has been exhausted.

　　But it doesn’t matter—

　　Originium is a renewable resource.

　　Just get rid of some infected people and you can harvest another batch of Originium resources.

　　It was a great mercy for Ursus to allow them to live a little longer.

　　"The second batch of infected people will be sent here by the nearby infected people patrol team. We will prepare for their reception later."

　　The officer put away the watch in his hand.

　　"Okay, boss."

　　The Ursus soldier shrugged.

　　He glanced at the sealed entrance to the mine.

　　Inside are the remaining infected miners.

　　He had seen this scene many times.

　　But the infected people are not of his same race.

　　It is a great honor to have them sacrifice their lives for the great Ursus.

　　Besides——

　　The Ursus tundra is a godforsaken place.

　　There is no village in front and no shop behind, and the entertainment options are extremely scarce. Guarding the infected mine here is almost like exile.

　　There is no sign of when the next batch of soldiers will arrive for their shift.

　　During a long prison sentence, you have to have some fun.

　　Well, it's nice to have some fun with these infected.

　　Especially when listening to their desperate cries.

　　He was somewhat intoxicated by the faint crying.

　　"What are you still standing there for?"

　　He was awakened by the voice of the Ursus officer.

　　"I'll be right there, Boss!"

　　The Ursus soldiers quickly left the mine.

　　After returning to the ground, he took off his protective gear and took a deep breath.

　　A somewhat morbid smile appeared on his face.

　　Soon, the second batch of infected people will arrive.

　　There's new fun.

　　"Um?"

　　The Ursus officer happened to look up, and then he saw that the sentry on the watchtower seemed to be sleeping.

　　"idiot."

　　He cursed inwardly.

　　Although this is a tundra, it does not mean that no one dares to attack the infected mine.

　　An Infected guerrilla group is active on the tundra.

　　"You go wake up that idiot, and then you'll get his share of today's drink."

　　The Ursus officer gave his orders to his subordinates.

　　"Okay, boss."

　　Climbing up the sentry tower swiftly, the Ursus soldier seemed to smell something——

　　That was the smell of blood.

　　It's very faint, but the smell of rust can still be smelled.

　　He could often smell it when he was torturing the infected.

　　In the tundra, the steaming blood will soon freeze after flowing out of the body.

　　"What are you doing..."

　　The Ursus soldier poked his head out from the ladder.

　　He wanted to ask his companions what they were doing.

　　Did he become mentally ill after serving time in prison and start self-harming?

　　result--

　　What came into view was a cold corpse.

　　Some of the flesh on the corpse was missing, and the wounds looked like they had been torn by some wild beast.

　　The other person's eyes were wide open, and the expression on his face was desperate and distorted.

　　It was as if I had seen some extremely terrifying creature.

　　And the direction those eyes that never closed were looking at——

　　It was behind the Ursus soldier.

　　“Gulp…”

　　The soldier's hands and feet were shaking a little, and he swallowed.

　　There seemed to be some strange noise behind me.

　　Turn your head slowly.

　　What came into view was a hideous and terrifying monster.

　　Bloodthirsty pupils, terrifying appearance, sharp fangs, and faintly visible blood residue on the fangs.

　　A finger disappeared into the monster's mouth.

　　“…”

　　Want to scream.

　　However, what I saw in the end was a bloody mouth biting towards me.

　　“Crack!”

　　There was a sound as if something was being bitten.

　　The body on the ladder drooped down limply, and then disappeared from the ladder, as if it was dragged up by some creature.

　　The Ursus officer on the ground did not notice this scene.

　　He had now walked into the barracks in the mine.

　　"Hey, boss, you're here. We left a bottle of wine and a pot of meat for you."

　　The other Ursus soldiers said so.

　　"This batch of infected people has been dealt with. You will then be ready to receive the second batch of infected people, as well as the supplies that will be delivered along with them."

　　"When you share it, leave a portion for me."

　　The officer took off his coat.

　　It was still warm in the barracks.

　　"No problem, boss!"

　　When the soldiers heard that a second batch of infected people were being sent in, their eyes lit up.

　　This damn place can only rely on the infected people to bring them fun.

　　"By the way, Boss, where is the new recruit you went with?"

　　Some veterans asked.

　　Although everyone has been here for a while, the length of time varies, so there is a distinction between so-called veterans and new recruits.

　　Recruits are considered to be the lowest-ranking soldiers.

　　"He went to wake up the idiot who fell asleep in the watchtower."

　　The officer said this while sitting in a chair and taking a sip of wine.

　　"Hahaha."

　　The veterans laughed.

　　"But why haven't you come back yet?"

　　I took out my watch and looked at it, and saw that several minutes had passed.

　　It shouldn't take long to wake someone up.

　　"Probably left behind as a replacement."

　　The veterans shrugged.

　　“…Don’t do that next time.”

　　The officer gave a warning.

　　"Hehehe, boss, it's okay." An Ursus soldier laughed. "By the way, boss, I found black snow when I was patrolling around the mine."

　　"Are you dazzled? How can snow be black?"

　　“I saw it with my own eyes!”

　　The soldiers expressed doubts.

　　“…”

　　The officer was stunned.

　　Black snow?

　　"Hahaha, do you still believe in the existence of face-destroying monsters?"

　　In the stories of Ursus, there is a legend about a monster with a disfigured face.

　　The black snow is a sign of the appearance of the face-destroying monster.

　　"Take me over there to have a look."

　　As the loser in an internal struggle within a noble family, the officer was not completely ignorant.

　　"Boss, do you believe in the existence of face-destroying monsters?"

　　"Shut your mouth. Don't talk about things you don't know."

　　The officer reprimanded.

　　If he could seize the opportunity, maybe he could leave this damn place!

　　"Well, you're the head, you're right."

　　The veteran who spotted black snow shrugged.

　　He put on his coat and pushed open the door of the barracks.

　　Then--

　　He made eye contact with a hideous monster.

　　The figure's somewhat confused expression was reflected in the bloodthirsty pupils.

　　"Strange……"

　　The scream that was about to burst out of her mouth was forced to be swallowed completely before it could be uttered.

　　The body fell limply to the ground.

　　The Ursus soldiers inside were stunned.

　　“…”

　　The ferocious monster chewed the hard object in its mouth and then threw the corpse out.

　　It walked into the barracks, and the door was closed by its sharp tail.

　　Then screams could be heard coming from inside the barracks.

　　The windows were splattered with scarlet blood.

　　I don’t know how long it was before all the sounds disappeared.

　　Finally, the only sounds left in the barracks were the sounds of chewing and heavy objects being dragged.

　　…………