Volume One: Planet of Beasts Chapter 16: The Ambush

“...Success on the mission earns three million copper coins; failure costs five hundred thousand. While on the mission, don’t hold back your bullets—shoot as much as you need. I’ll cover all your expenses during the operation. Here’s the contract; take a look. If there’s no issue, just sign.” It was clear that Shaoyun Pu was hardly short of money, his tone brimming with confidence.

“When do we set off?” Li Juxu carefully examined the contract. This was important—some teams could be cunning, slipping in clauses that seemed reasonable but hid deadly traps. He hadn’t encountered such trickery himself, but many newcomers had been fooled—completing missions only to receive no pay, and having no recourse because the terms were black and white.

Pu’s contract was clean, with no hidden snares.

“At eight tonight. Gather here by seven,” Pu said.

“I’ll arrive at six-thirty,” Li replied.

“Need to buy anything? I have connections and can get you a twenty percent discount,” Pu offered.

“12.3mm sniper rounds, and ten boxes of chocolate.” Li paused at the door to toss out the request. Since Pu was so generous, he wouldn’t hold back.

A sniper’s work was tedious—long hours lying still in one spot. Chewing something helped relax the body and ease tension. Usually, Li chewed candy because it was cheap, but chocolate was better—high energy, pleasant taste, and a perfect aid during downtime. Usually, he wouldn’t splurge; chocolate was too expensive.

At eight sharp, the team departed. When Li saw the five monstrous war vehicles, he was struck with awe—and finally understood why Pu chose to leave at night.

The planet of Beasts was plagued by strange magnetic fields and an unknown force yet to be understood by humanity. High technology was almost useless there—radios, communication devices, radar—all indispensable tools on the homeworld failed on Beasts. Only in the few settlement hubs could some high-tech equipment function.

Vehicles had to be modified, stripping out parts that would conflict with the planet’s environment before they could operate. The main limitation was cost. Beasts lay fifty light-years from the homeworld; transporting entire vehicles or even materials for assembly was exorbitantly expensive—the freight alone cost more than ten times the vehicle’s value.

Without considerable wealth, no one dared dream of such an investment.

Each war vehicle seated ten passengers, so this team numbered at least fifty—a formidable force in Settlement 11, where most teams consisted of around ten. The settlement itself was modest, making it difficult to sustain large squads.

Li rode in the last vehicle, boarding last as the convoy set off. Inside, ten others shared the spacious compartment—not cramped at all. With a driver and co-driver, each vehicle could hold twelve.

Li discreetly appraised the others. They returned the favor, all sizing each other up. From this, Li knew they were all freshly recruited strangers. That gave him a bad feeling about the mission’s success.

Teams without prior cohesion might manage easy missions, but in emergencies, coordination and communication would falter. A single slip could mean death. Judging from the sniper in the hospital ward who knew the drummer, the mission’s difficulty was no joke.

But now that they were on board, it was too late for doubts. Li suspected everyone was chasing the generous pay Pu promised.

Li had only visited Settlement 11 twice before and knew few here. Yet, from their physiques and demeanors, he could guess their specialties. The hulking figures were likely power players, the team’s heavy firepower, usually standard with Type 38 submachine guns. Given Pu’s resources, flamethrowers might also be present. The alert man on the left probably excelled at scouting, while the one on the right bore thick calluses on his knuckles—a sign of close-quarter combat experience. Across from them sat a figure with a large backpack, its contents unknown.

Silence reigned inside the vehicle.

“The journey’s long. We won’t reach the destination until dawn. Everyone get some rest,” the young man in the co-driver’s seat called out. He was likely one of Pu’s trusted aides.

Obediently, the passengers closed their eyes. Seasoned veterans knew well the importance of preserving strength before a mission. Li closed his eyes too, but sleep eluded him. Perhaps it was the effect of the strength serum, or the fact that he had rested well for several days. His energy felt boundless; rest seemed unnecessary.

The war vehicles were practically impregnable, but comfort was lacking. Beasts had almost no roads—only vehicles like these could handle the brutal terrain. Even so, their speed was limited to about 50 km/h.

Pu had not disclosed mission details—not because he forgot, but because many operations kept specifics secret until arrival to prevent leaks. Li didn’t speculate. He was no newbie, no longer plagued by uncertainty. Instead, his mind involuntarily conjured the delicate, ethereal face of Zhao Hui’er—his girlfriend, his only family in this world.

Though not an orphan, Zhao was little different from one. Born with a congenital illness, her biological parents abandoned her at birth. Fortunately, her adoptive parents treated her illness, but happiness was fleeting. At fifteen, they died in a car accident. Her biological parents resurfaced, but shortly after, she was diagnosed with central nervous system fission cancer. Once again, her birth parents abandoned her. Li could hardly fathom how anyone could be so heartless—forsaking their own flesh and blood twice.

Lost in these thoughts, he drifted to sleep.

Suddenly, a surge of dread jolted him awake. Opening his eyes in the dim vehicle interior, the first thing he saw were the resolute eyes of the largest man aboard—a mountain of muscle, sitting like a fortress, radiating overwhelming pressure. The giant had awakened almost simultaneously, sensing danger too. Li’s gaze darted outside. In the rearview mirror, a red light rapidly approached. His body’s hair stood on end as he shouted, “Rocket launcher! Ambush—”