Chapter 104: Upgrade! Lv20 Armor-Piercing Cannon!
As Lin Feng activated the flying mode of the Lv20 Flying Tiger Armor, he soared backward, using inertia to escape. The previously concealed mound over the burrow collapsed, revealing a loose pit.
Simultaneously, as the ground vibrated from the high-frequency tremors, a ten-meter-long pair of massive jaws burst forth from where Lin Feng had just stood, snapping shut with a loud crack!
The razor-sharp tips of the jaws missed his airborne feet by mere centimeters.
His quick reflexes saved him; a delay of even a fraction of a second would have cost him his legs, leading to severe injury.
With his focus heightened by the activation of the Death's Eye ability, Lin Feng had been in deep concentration when he pulled the trigger, momentarily ignoring the changes at his feet.
Several Red Beetles had inserted their pincers into the tunnel walls, shaking in unison.
This was reminiscent of what Lin Feng had encountered in Haicheng, where Red Beetles drummed on surfaces, summoning their kin.
Here, their synchronized vibrations destabilized the soil, turning it into quicksand to allow the Tiger Bug rapid passage.
The vibrations reached Lin Feng just in time, alerting him to the danger beneath his feet. Unable to upgrade his Lv19 grenade launcher, Lin Feng leaped back, taking to the air.
As the Tiger Bug's jaws missed their mark, it slammed the ground in frustration, trying to injure Lin Feng.
The Tiger Bug, an advanced evolution of the Black Spinal Bug, boasted significantly enhanced attributes, including intelligence worthy of its substantial mental value.
Without flight, Lin Feng might not have dodged this threat.
From his aerial vantage, Lin Feng aimed his Lv19 grenade launcher at the shifting sands below, unleashing a barrage of shells!
Amid the explosions, the Tiger Bug retreated into the tunnels, but the Red Beetles facilitating its advance were not as fortunate.
The grenades' 190-point damage and shockwaves obliterated them.
The vibrations ceased, and the soil stabilized.
With its assault avenue gone, Lin Feng continued firing until the crater beneath was a deep pit, over ten meters wide, before halting his bombardment.
The Tiger Bug narrowly escaped, protected by the soil and its upward-facing jaws. Lin Feng's barrage dealt less than a hundred damage—insufficient to gravely wound it.
He had let it slip away.
Spitting out the grit-filled saliva, Lin Feng cursed, clearing his mouth of the dust inhaled during his retreat.
Using his psychic abilities to ensure no Tiger Bugs lurked nearby, Lin Feng abandoned thoughts of retrieving the distant Tiger Bug's corpse.
Recalling Qin Hu's ordeal, Lin Feng, despite his Flying Tiger Armor, avoided the risk of battling insects over corpses underground.
Surrounded by a flash, Lin Feng flew back to the outpost fortress, maintaining an altitude of 50 to 60 meters.
The watching recruits and officers, including Li Ran, were awestruck.
Prompted by Shen Jie, they realized the flying figure in black and yellow armor was their sergeant major, Lin Feng.
As the familiar explosions resonated, those observing through binoculars celebrated the Tiger Bug's defeat and Lin Feng's narrow escape.
The sergeant major returned triumphant, landing beside the central war vehicle, his wings folding gracefully.
Li Ran and others approached as the dust settled, their joy at seeing Lin Feng's familiar face unveiled from the armor.
The outpost's combat strength largely depended on Lin Feng, and his growing power boosted their chances of holding the line.
His unique flying capabilities and ability to confront and defeat Tiger Bugs alleviated the Tier 2 insect threat, lifting morale.
Morale was crucial; its loss could severely weaken a unit's combat effectiveness, sometimes deciding battles.
Lin Feng's feat—killing a Tiger Bug and returning unscathed—would inspire the soldiers, easing their fear of the night's challenges.
With their sergeant major leading, they feared no Tiger Bug assault.
Facing Shen Jie and others' gazes, and the hopeful eyes of soldiers in the shooting layers, Lin Feng spoke calmly:
"I've successfully killed a Tiger Bug and am about to enter Tier 2 awakening. Disperse now; I need rest to complete this awakening before nightfall."
His confirmation sparked cheers!
A Tier 2 awakener was a rare, formidable force.
Abilities would drastically improve, enhancing combat power.
Major Cheng's promotion after reaching Tier 2 showed the prestige and power of such an advancement.
But Lin Feng, as a super bullet awakener, promised even greater potential.
With his ability's enhancement, he could annihilate Tiger Bugs and obliterate the insect swarm.
Waving the men off, Lin Feng entered the vehicle, excitement lingering in the outpost.
Chen Yanyan exited the driver's seat, relieved to see Lin Feng shed his armor, helping him remove his sweat-soaked clothes.
Sustained flight heated the Flying Tiger Armor, compounded by adrenaline during the crisis, leaving Lin Feng drenched.
His calm exterior belied the danger known only to him.
"Did you detect any flying insects?"
Lin Feng asked, wiping sweat with a towel Chen Yanyan handed over.
"No Wind Wing Bugs detected, but a few Blue Wing Bugs kept their distance," she replied.
"They'll report back, preparing the Queen. Next sortie may not be so easy..."
Lin Feng nodded. The Flying Tiger Armor's flight mode couldn't remain hidden; it was meant for this upgrade.
With Lv20 upgrades complete, he was ready for Wind Wing Bug threats.
Flight mode was one of Flying Tiger Armor's forms, alongside absolute defense and explosive scale armor, effective against Wind Wing Bugs.
"Keep watch. I'll need uninterrupted time for awakening."
"If the swarm attacks with Tiger Bugs, detonate the road explosives and drive away."
"Take as many as you can."
Chen Yanyan nodded, understanding the gravity of Lin Feng's instructions.
During his awakening, the outpost would be vulnerable. As Lin Feng's trusted ally, she must make tough decisions to ensure his escape if needed.
Gazing at the detonator on the table, she saw Lin Feng enter his quarters, then returned to her post, vigilant for Tiger Bug retaliation.
In his quarters, Lin Feng initiated the Lv19 grenade launcher upgrade, showered to wash off sweat and grime, then ate high-calorie snacks to satiate hunger.
With several hours until dusk, he lay down, awaiting the upgrade's completion.
The time allowed for preparation, with only a slim chance of the worst-case scenario.
If the Queen had any sense, she'd avoid attacking an outpost capable of killing Tier 2 insects during daylight.
A strategic retreat was the wiser choice.
After an hour, the Lv19 grenade launcher evolved into an orange-quality Lv20 Armor-Piercing Cannon:
"Armor-Piercing Cannon Lv20/29, Orange Quality
Damage: 250, Effective Range: 10 km, Ammo: 6000/6000
Extra Attribute: Bullet Recovery 1/s, 6000-round Space Magazine, Death's Eye 0/50, Area Damage 50+50/s over 10,000 sq meters
New Extra Attribute: Bullet Time
Evaluation: A cannon with 100mm penetration, its powerful shots compromise compact design but enhance long-range capability. Enhanced shells penetrate 10m of earth, causing internal explosion, a serious threat to high-armor targets."
The orange flash revealed the Lv20 Armor-Piercing Cannon's new rifle form, its weight now significantly increased.
Despite appearing light, it weighed over 100 kilograms, yet for Lin Feng, a Tier 1 full awakener with multi-ton strength, it was like wielding a stick.
Lin Feng easily aimed single-handedly, the upgrade adding a 4x to 8x variable scope.
The scope augmented his awakener eagle vision, offering an effective range of eight kilometers.
Comparable to missiles, it multiplied Lin Feng's combat range.
Night vision was absent, limiting its nighttime use.
The 60-point damage boost thrilled Lin Feng.
With 250 base damage and Death's Eye doubling for headshots, even Lv25 Tiger Bugs would perish.
The ammo increased by 1,000, with no other major changes.
Lin Feng continued reading, discovering the new extra attribute:
Bullet Time...
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