Chapter 54: Insect Soldier Guardians

If Ma Wei didn’t agree, Zhang Qiang could do nothing about it. Even drawing a single bug over meant death in seconds—and a pointless death at that. Only by joining forces with Ma Wei, betting their lives together, could they maybe find a sliver of hope to survive.

“Damn it, let’s do it!” Ma Wei hesitated briefly, his face twisting fiercely. “We either win a future here or die trying. Charge!”

Exchanging a glance, they yelled and lunged together toward the insect soldiers.

Seeing Ma Wei and Zhang Qiang desperately lure one insect soldier guard away, Xu Feng smiled inwardly. From the start, he’d decided not to involve them. Despite both reaching Two Stars strength, against Insect Soldier Guardians, without any learned skills, they were still far too weak. These guards moved blindingly fast; engaging just one meant gambling with one’s life.

“Seems they do have some backbone,” Xu Feng thought. Unconsciously, his attack speed quickened.

Xu Feng had possessed permanently learned sword techniques in a past life. But those powerful moves required a formidable physique to support them. Forcing them out now wouldn’t just weaken their potency without skill bonuses—it would damage his body for no real gain.

So currently, Xu Feng only had Swift Wind Thrust, plus a few basic strikes from Basic Swordplay, to rely on.

Thankfully, Xu Feng’s foundations were solid. Even with just Basic Swordplay, he fought evenly against these One-Star Peak insect soldier guards. And Swift Wind Thrust played a key role like a timely miracle, tipping critical moments in his favor. For now, Xu Feng matched the swarm guard for guard, locked in stalemate.

But Xu Feng knew he was barely holding his ground against them. Prolonged fighting would drain his stamina first.

He’d also considered luring the guards into the narrow passage to pick them off one by one. Yet they were too fast. Dragging them through the woods behind him wouldn’t be easy.

Luckily, Ma Wei and Zhang Qiang boldly splitting one guard off eased Xu Feng’s load greatly—he’d initially prepared to trade injury for injury. Now, he steadily unleashed more force through his swordplay.

Xu Feng’s Basic Swordplay flowed naturally, smooth as drifting clouds or nimble as mountain goats. Each strike landed precisely on a guard’s throat, eyes, or armpit. Though their heavy Insectoid Carapace held firm initially, repeated blows—hitting the same spot dozens of times—shattered sections into useless fragments.

Critical hit. Critical hit. Critical hit.

Without the Insectoid Carapace shielding them, Xu Feng’s strikes frequently dealt critical wounds to the insect soldiers. Had Xu Feng not avoided reckless moves, he might’ve slain these guards already.

“Ah!!”

Just as Xu Feng gained the upper hand against the guards, a piercing scream cut the air nearby. Whirling around, he saw Zhang Qiang collapsed in a pool of blood. A bone-deep gash marked his back, spraying crimson as he trembled and seemed near unconsciousness.

“H-heelp!” Zhang Qiang rasped from the ground. Panicking, Ma Wei scrambled backward with clumsy retreats. But the insect soldier guard only grew fiercer, chasing him relentlessly, its Bone Blade hacking wildly. Ma Wei dodged death by inches again and again.

This won’t do. I have to end this—fast! Xu Feng’s heart sank. With time, Zhang Qiang might’ve been saved. Dragging this out now meant both would likely die here.

“Die! Swift Wind Thrust! Swift Wind Thrust! Swift Wind Thrust…”

Xu Feng slammed his right foot down, unleashing the skill repeatedly as he flung himself at one guard before him. He ignored the four Bone Blades streaking toward his flank.

Thump-thump-thump!

A series of explosions battered the targeted guard into critical hits, wave after wave smashing its head apart instantly. The headless insect corpse flopped down, dumping green blood across the ground.

Simultaneously, four blade gashes ripped open Xu Feng’s back. His Health Points dropped sharply by a quarter.

A savage grin curled Xu Feng’s lips as he finished off that guard. Spinning fluidly, his sword carved an arc. The Bone Blade of the guard on his left had only just left its wound on Xu Feng’s back when—flashing sword light—he severed that insect’s right arm clean from its shoulder.

Badly wounded, the now-one-armed guard staggered back, terror flashing in its eyes.

Though imprinted from creation to protect the Insect Nest at all costs, these insect soldier guards still showed their sentient race’s primal fear when facing death: the will to survive.

It spun as if to flee. But mid-turn, it froze stiffly—body jerking like a puppet yanked by invisible strings—then lurched rigidly forward to face Xu Feng again. With its remaining arm, it launched a clumsy, frightened slash. But those wooden movements posed no danger now; even Ma Wei and Zhang Qiang could evade such an attack.

Xu Feng’s sword swept down smoothly, ending both the guard’s life and its thrall to the Insect Nest’s forced control. He instantly wheeled toward the final two insect soldier guards.

A few more wounds later, paying with another third of his Health Points, Xu Feng tore through the remaining pair. Then he sprinted toward Ma Wei.

In those brief dozen seconds, Ma Wei had lost two-thirds of his Health Points, body slashed bloody as though flayed by a hundred knives. Despairingly waiting to die, he saw Xu Feng cutting down the other insects and charging toward him. Hope abruptly flared in Ma Wei’s eyes. Roaring, he fought back savagely like a burst of desperate life, forcing his insect foe backward two steps.

Just as the furious insect readied to shred him, Xu Feng arrived. Together, the two soon chopped the final insect soldier to pieces.

“Haha! We won! We won!” Ma Wei howled with mad laughter, tears abruptly flooding his cheeks as he broke into sobs.

Xu Feng ignored Ma Wei’s display. He moved to Zhang Qiang’s side and bent down to check him carefully.