Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 485 - 433: Becoming Human

Chapter 485: Chapter 433: Becoming Human

The mercenaries swallowed nervously, having lost the unmanned drone, they also lost their means of securing reconnaissance.

To them, stepping into the grand woodland before them became even more difficult. It was said that the land was originally covered with garbage, piled up like mountains, vast and endless. Now, what they saw was a vast and wild primeval jungle.

Lush and vibrant, colorful plants grew wildly under the night sky, pink giant flowers, emerald vines, and towering ancient trees could be seen everywhere, with moss and rocks scattered all around. Had they not seen it with their own eyes, it would be hard to imagine this place teeming with such vitality.

The unmanned drone was easily shot down in the forest, and the mercenaries felt a strong threat. However, warriors who face the battlefield will not be so easily deterred.

Principally, they are to march towards inevitable death; theirs is a profession priced in blood. No matter how cruel or horrifying the supernatural phenomena they face, they must be prepared to lay down their lives.

Furthermore, insurance companies would scrutinize their death reports repeatedly; a cowardly demise would result in their families not receiving any compensation.

In this era, ideals and courage could both be bought with money. The mercenaries cursed the vague threats under their breaths, exchanged looks to ensure they were all sufficiently motivated, and then gave their weapons and equipment one final check.

Eight carried "Snake" style 7mm main battle rifles, four used electric submachine guns, which could easily erode armor with their high velocity energy ammunition. Other items such as frag grenades, pulse bombs, healing injections, repair kits, bayonets, or daggers were also ready at hand.

After completing their checks, they left two behind to guard the ships used for retreat, while the rest entered the grand woodland with a resolve to face death.

Modern mercenaries were more agile than their counterparts in previous eras, having undergone moderate body modification. They were outfitted with composite artificial eyes that combined magnification, night vision, and binocular functions, replacing the bulky night-vision goggles and telescopes. Advances in material technology also allowed them to wear lightweight yet sturdy helmets and armor.

Moreover, they seldom carried cumbersome rocket launchers and man-portable air-defense systems, opting instead for wrist-launched "Bee" type missiles and laser shoulder cannons, which were more portable. These artificial fittings were connected by a bionic circuit cluster running along their spines, all powered by a unified power source.

Energy supply came in various forms. If the power consumption of the equipment was low, they typically used the micro gears in their knee joints; as the mercenaries moved through the forest, each step would rapidly spin the gears in their knees to generate electricity.

The electronics embedded in their bodies filled them with extra confidence; they were not advancing solely on flesh and blood. Companies, developers, and retailers provided support from the shadows, turning them into refined mercenaries of their time. The advertising slogans from promotional campaigns also reassured them, with all their equipment being touted as precise and effective.

"The front is secure."

"No signs of monsters detected."

"No life responses within 200 meters."

"Stay sharp, we need to collect enough data and figure out what exactly happened here," the mercenaries advanced in a tactical formation, ensuring that threats from any direction would be identified promptly, all the while continuously recording the visuals before them.

Ten minutes into their walk, they had penetrated deep into the grand woodland, even stumbling upon the previously shot-down unmanned drone, severely damaged due to electromagnetic interference.

"It’s too quiet here," a mercenary couldn’t help but say, as he lowered the muzzle of his gun by an inch, looking up at the overcast sky where the moon hid behind the clouds.

Almost as a response to his words, rustling sounds came from the soil.

Then, a mass of strong and powerful vines burst forth from the earth, wrapping and ensnaring them like ropes! The mercenaries shouted loudly, using guns, flamethrowers, or military sabers to destroy the vines.

At that moment, every tree shook violently, emitting a piercingly chaotic noise; the dancing green vines plunged the mercenaries into disarray.

Within an instant, they transformed from fearless techno-warriors into a startled herd, for they faced the most terrifying opponent on this world—nature itself.

The ground no longer felt stable; the soil churned beneath their feet, the sweet scent of pollen bouncing on their olfactory receptors, and the vines lashed and sliced like whips and blades, pouring nature’s fury upon them.

"Watch out!"

"Spread out!" one of the mercenaries pulled the handle of his portable flamethrower, which connected to his abdomen and drew liquid fuel from his metallic intestines. He witnessed a blue-green flame bursting forth before him, the fire spreading over the grass, illuminating the night, setting the grass ablaze. The more fuel the sprayer used, the lighter he felt in his body.

He roared loudly, swearing to conquer nature, until that black creature reappeared.

Bang!

Another lightning-fast pulse of electromagnetic energy spread out like a giant, transparent, swiftly swung blade crossing the battlefield. The most advanced protective gear present couldn’t withstand the onslaught of such a level of electromagnetic pulse wave. Implants were crushed by the high temperatures and electrical arcs in an instant. They screamed as they lost control over their bodies, as fragile as if all their bones had been removed, they collapsed to the ground easily, all their internal organs ignited.

When they lost all the electronics on their bodies, the only thing they could do was to see the creature with their naked eyes and feel terrified before its horrifying appearance.

It was the one that had previously shot down the unmanned drone with lightning. It was a giant rat, the largest Ratman Mother, with a slender head, a snout full of sharp teeth, a slim body, long bow-shaped legs, and paws with razor-sharp claws. A razor-like long tail swept back and forth behind it, and grotesque spines continuously grew along its back, an utter nightmare come to life.