112: Lin Wan

Unable to break through for a long time, Lu Jianchuan realized that conventional attacks were unlikely to be effective.

After dodging another lethal bite from the giant mandibles, he seized an opening as the creature closed in. Risking being trapped by the jaws, he lunged forward, slamming his silver-white armor-clad right palm fiercely into the Bone-Armored Giant Ant's relatively fragile neck joint!

"Zzzt—!"

The instant his palm made contact, a powerful blue-white electric arc erupted from his hand!

The high-voltage bio-current no longer sought flashy long-range effects. Instead, like countless tiny silver needles, it surged frantically into the giant ant's body along the gaps in its bone armor and its relatively moist connective tissues!

"Hiss—!!!"

The Bone-Armored Giant Ant let out an unprecedentedly shrill shriek. Its massive body convulsed violently as if struck by an invisible giant hammer.

The current ravaged its interior, destroying nerves and muscles. Its indestructible bone armor now became a cage that trapped the electricity, intensifying the internal damage. Its entire body stiffened and its movements ceased completely; it looked as if it would be dismantled from the inside by this close-range electrical attack.

Just at the moment victory was about to be decided—

“Swish! Swish! Swish!”

Several sharp whistles of air came rapidly from the side and rear! They were several pale-white, sharp Bone spurs that looked as if they had been polished from the bones of some creature. They moved with incredible speed and power, aimed directly at the back of Lu Jianchuan's heart while he was fully focused on outputting current and had no time for anything else!

Lu Jianchuan sensed the lethal threat and was forced to cut off the current output, lunging away from the giant ant and rolling to the side to dodge!

“Thud! Thud! Thud!”

Several Bone spurs nailed themselves deep into the ground where he had just been standing, their ends still vibrating violently.

The gazes of Lu Jianchuan, Wang Yu, and the Rabbit King instantly turned toward the direction the Bone spurs had come from.

In the shadow of a withered tree at the edge of the cemetery, Lin Wan stood there, appearing out of nowhere. Beneath the skin of her raised right arm, new pale-white bones were piercing through the skin, slowly growing and taking shape.

Lu Jianchuan's gaze pierced through the drifting dust, locking onto the figure under the withered tree. “Lin Wan... it's actually you.” His voice was low, carrying complex emotions. “I remember you're one of Prometheus's people. Does this mean the New Federation and you all have... joined forces?”

The new Bone spurs on Lin Wan's arm slowly retracted beneath her skin. Her face showed no sign of emotion as she responded calmly, “It’s not exactly a formal alliance. Our philosophies don't align with those beasts. We’re just... each taking what we need. They provide the testing grounds and materials; we obtain the data and results. It’s just a temporary exchange of interests.”

She changed the subject, her gaze fixed on Lu Jianchuan. “Do you really not intend to join us, Lu Jianchuan? This is the final invitation.”

“Hmph,” Lu Jianchuan snorted coldly and said decisively, “I told you, I refuse.”

“Fine,” Lin Wan sighed softly, her tone actually carrying a hint of regret. “To be honest, I... quite liked you.”

“Liked me?” Lu Jianchuan repeated the words, falling silent for a moment. This word, which he had once doubted and hated but could never fully erase, now caused a surge of emotion in his heart as it came from her mouth.

He took a deep breath and asked the question that had been weighing on his heart: “Lin Wan, tell me. Back then... those days we spent together, those experiences—how much of it was sincere?”

Lin Wan didn't answer immediately. Her gaze drifted slightly as if she too had fallen into a memory. Only after a few seconds did she say softly, “I suppose... yes. Back then, I really did... fall for you a little.”

Hearing this answer, the tension in Lu Jianchuan's jaw seemed to relax for a moment. He nodded as if finally unloading a heavy stone. “So,” Lin Wan pressed, “knowing this answer, are you willing to join us now?”

“No.” Lu Jianchuan's answer came without the slightest hesitation, but his eyes were no longer filled with the struggle and doubt from before; instead, they became clear and firm. “I will not join you. I only asked to confirm one thing.”

He raised his left hand, and the armband on his wrist began to emit an increasingly bright orange-red light. “Now, I'm certain.” Feeling the power surging even more violently within him due to the release of his emotions, he whispered, “I’m glad... at least it wasn't all a lie.”

“Vroom—!”

A deeper, more oppressive engine roar erupted from within him! On the silver-white base armor, dark red propulsion structures and pulse vents rapidly proliferated and covered him. A brilliant white visor replaced the azure blue, and a violent heatwave swept out with him at the center!

Second Form · Explosive Combustion Form, activate!

“With this, the doubt that plagued me is resolved.” Lu Jianchuan looked up and locked onto Lin Wan, his voice carrying a resolute Battle Intent through the armor. “Now, I can finally... act without any reservations!”

Almost the instant the Explosive Combustion Form was complete, Lu Jianchuan moved!

The Bone-Armored Giant Ant, which had just recovered from the electrical paralysis and was struggling to crawl up, became the first target for his vented power.

“Boom!”

The thrusters at his feet and back erupted in brilliant white flames, propelling him like a crimson meteor. He instantly slammed into the giant ant's chest! A split second before contact, the thrusters on his right fist ignited early, imbuing this heavy punch with the terrifying kinetic energy of a rocket propulsion!

“Bang!!!”

The fist, covered in dark red bio-armor, slammed solidly into the giant ant's chest plate, which had just endured the electrical baptism! The previously indestructible bone armor let out a tooth-aching cracking sound under this punch, and spiderweb-like cracks instantly spread!

But it wasn't over yet!

“Boom—!!”

The thrusters on Lu Jianchuan's right fist, still pressed against the giant ant's chest, flared a second time! An even thicker, more violent jet of flame blasted into the cracks of the bone armor at point-blank range, detonating it completely from the inside!

The giant ant couldn't even let out a cry before its massive body was blown to pieces by this combined internal and external destructive energy, burning debris flying everywhere!

Having dealt with the giant ant, Lu Jianchuan's brilliant white visor didn't pause for a moment, instantly locking onto Lin Wan, who was about to retreat.

A flash of horror finally crossed Lin Wan's eyes. She hadn't expected his power to increase to such an extent, much less that he would strike so decisively and without hesitation!

“Swish swish swish—!”

She swung both arms rapidly, instantly firing over a dozen sharp Bone spurs that rained down on Lu Jianchuan like a storm. Simultaneously, the skin on her body continued to bulge as more pale-white Bone spurs rapidly grew, forming a bone-like thorn fortress in an attempt to protect herself.

However, in the face of absolute power and speed, all these defenses appeared pale and powerless!

Lu Jianchuan didn't even bother to dodge. The thrusters around his body erupted in brief, explosive bursts, carrying him along an eerie zigzag trajectory. He easily bypassed the barrage of Bone spurs and instantly closed the distance to Lin Wan!

His massive fist, covered in crimson armor and carrying an Aura that could crush everything, slammed fiercely into the bone spur armor she had just constructed!

“Crack— Crash!”

Those seemingly hard Bone spurs shattered and flew apart like fragile glass before the fist of the Explosive Combustion Form! The punch's momentum didn't slow as it pierced through the broken bone fragments and slammed heavily into her fragile abdomen!

“Ugh!”

Lin Wan groaned in pain, her body sent flying like a kite with its string cut.

But she didn't even fly far before Lu Jianchuan's other hand shot out like an iron pincer, accurately grabbing her ankle!

“Ha!”

With a low roar, his arm muscles bulged, and he used his waist to generate power, swinging Lin Wan over his head and slamming her fiercely toward the solid ground!

“Bang—!!!”

With a dull thud, the ground itself seemed to tremble. Dust flew as Lin Wan lay paralyzed in the shallow pit she had created. Most of the Bone spurs on her body were shattered; she was clearly heavily injured and unable to move for the time being.