Chapter 1279 - Tide of Insects (1/2)

These bugs were very clever. They knew that penetrating the tunnel with their head was just asking to be killed by Celestial Marines, so they used the tunnels left by Devil Worms, went around the base, and launched a flank.

If it weren’t for the TS Expedition that continuously monitored the life signal near Mine 071 and alerted the stationed troops to withdraw when the bugs crawled to five kilometers underground, the force would have been caught by surprise.

Fortunately, these Corruptors were not as sensitive to sound waves as Devil Worms, so the soldiers and engineers stationed there were able to withdraw in time.

The specimens were also brought back to the base.

Although it was not easy, the Marines still managed to get a few.

In addition to more than a dozen intact specimens, they also captured four larvae!

The four larvae were undoubtedly a pleasant surprise for the base that lacked specimens.

The four Corruptors larvae were kept in separate vials and stored in isolation rooms.

The smallest one was the size of an adult’s palm, while the largest was the size of a washbasin. They were minified Corruptors, except they did not spew venom. Unlike Devil Worm larvae, the small size did not weaken their aggression, instead, it made them more dangerous and lethal!

Researchers placed a bull into the same vial. In less than a second, the bull was attacked by the Corruptor, and its head was penetrated by its sharp tail. While the Corruptor ate the bull, it demonstrated an astounding digestive ability, as half of the bull was devoured in three short days.

In these three days, the size of the Corruptor grew almost exponentially. It grew from palm-sized to half-a-meter-high, and it could spray traces of corrosive acid.

Based on this trend, in the case of sufficient organic matter, it would grow to the size of an adult Corruptor in less than a month.

“Twenty larvae in a single birth, each as big as a washbasin … God, can you imagine it the size of the thing when it becomes an adult!” A researcher in a white coat used his hands to demonstrate the size of the Corruptor as he kept shaking his head. “The experimental environment here is too crude. We must immediately ship the specimens to Celestial City for further research.”

“How long will it take for them to grow up?” Hong Zewei frowned as he examined the restless little thing under the glass cover.

“I don’t know,” the researcher shook his head and looked at the bull skeleton inside the glass cover. “This can’t be used as a reference. There should be no such rich organic matter for them to grow underground. Sample No. 3 that is consuming oxygen-producing bacteria has a growth speed of only one-tenth of this one. ”

“How many bugs are still hidden in this damn desert,” Hong Zewei cursed fiercely.

“I don’t know if you noticed it,” the researcher said after pondering for a moment, “but every time we encounter a new trouble, it’s because of Mine 071 … I’m curious what’s buried inside.”

Hong Zewei processed the information, then frowned, and became deep in thought.

However, at this moment, the alarm on the wall interrupted his train-of-thought.

Hong Zewei immediately looked to the alarm, then rushed towards the entrance of the institute.

…

The sirens rang inside the colony and the entire colony was rattled.

At this moment, Celestial Marines demonstrated their combat abilities. In less than half a minute, the equipped soldiers rushed to the front door from the hallway, opened the storage box, and wielded the kinetic skeleton.

With their clips locked in, Zhang Hai loaded the Gauss rifle in his hand.

“What’s happening outside?” A woman with curly hair walked up and tried to stop Zhang Hai, “There is something else besides the Devil Worms, right? Or you won’t build the wall … ”

“No comment,” Zhang Hai answered coldly. Then he buckled the last button of the tactical helmet, pushed the woman away, and jogged to the buffer chamber.

The woman wanted to say something but was stopped by Brace standing next to her.