67: Chapter 67 The Living Scarab

Two dim green points of light stabilized; they were not floating ghost fires, but the cold light emitted by some kind of compound-eye optical sensor array.

Following that, a low, streamlined metal silhouette slowly crawled out from the shadows of the laboratory, entering the illumination range of the corridor's pale emergency lights.

Necron Scarabs!

But unlike the completely inactive remains found in the drainage pipes earlier, the Scarab before his eyes—though its shell was covered in scars and signs of repair (some of the repair methods were crude, as if parts of different models had been forcibly welded on)—was definitely moving!

Its multi-jointed metal limbs moved alternately, emitting a faint but distinct "click" sound, and the energy core in the center of its torso (located on its back) flickered with an unstable, yet undeniable, green eerie light.

Its head sensor array turned toward the direction where Lin Qiming was hiding, the green light flickering slightly, as if "gazing" at him.

"Alive… or rather, half-dead?" Lin Qiming's heart tightened.

The state of this Scarab was clearly abnormal; its energy fluctuations were chaotic, and its movements were somewhat sluggish, unlike the cold, efficient killing machines of the Necron armies from the legends.

But it was still a Necron unit, and it was less than fifteen meters away from him!

[Target Analysis: Necron Scarab (Scanning/Assault Type), severely damaged state. Energy core output is unstable, approximately 15% - 20% of normal value. Significant dysfunction in some limb joints. Speculated to be a unit damaged and abandoned here during the 'prometheus' incident, having undergone degradation and partial self-repair (or environmental influence) over the long years, now in a state of extremely low activity. Threat Level: Medium-High (due to it still possessing basic attack capabilities and uncertain weapon systems).] Hephaestus quickly provided the analysis.

"Medium-High? To me, that's fatal!" Lin Qiming roared internally, but his body remained motionless, relying on [Basic Stealth] and the cover of the environment, hoping it was just passing by.

Unfortunately, things did not go as he wished. The Scarab's sensors locked onto him.

It did not charge immediately; instead, it raised its front half, and an inconspicuous hole beneath its abdomen slightly adjusted its angle, aiming at Lin Qiming—that was the firing port of a Gauss weapon!

"Dodge!"

Lin Qiming reacted the moment the opponent adjusted its angle; [Combat Prediction] allowed him to capture that tiny, lethal tell.

He lunged to the right, curling his body at the same time!

Hiss—!

A stream of green energy, almost impossible for the naked eye to capture, like a whip of twisted light, grazed past his left shoulder armor!

The wall that was hit vanished silently and instantly in a large chunk, the matter decomposed into the most basic particles, leaving behind a terrifying crater with smooth edges!

There was no explosion, no sound, only the terrifying silence of matter being completely erased.

"Gauss weapon! How thoughtful, it even saves me the cremation fee!" Lin Qiming rolled onto the ground, cold sweat instantly soaking his back.

He dared not linger, scrambling on his hands and feet toward the corner of the corridor, where there was a half-collapsed bunker.

After missing the shot, the Scarab seemed to pause due to its unstable energy, emitting a faint "zzzt" sound, as if from a short-circuited circuit.

But it quickly adjusted, moving its six metal legs, and pursued him at a steady pace; it wasn't fast, but it carried a mechanical, unquestionable sense of oppression.

Lin Qiming hid behind the bunker and quickly raised the "Whisperer".

The effectiveness of crossbow bolts against Necron metal shells was questionable, but he had to try.

He aimed at a gap beneath the Scarab's head sensor array that looked like a joint connection and pulled the trigger!

Whoosh! The bolt hit accurately! But with a crisp "clang," the arrowhead struck the metal shell, sending up a trail of sparks, and was deflected! It left only a shallow white mark.

"Damn, the armor is too thick!" Lin Qiming cursed inwardly.

The Scarab had closed in, less than ten meters from the bunker. It raised its front body again, the Gauss firing port began to charge, and dim green light gathered inside the hole.

He couldn't take it head-on! Lin Qiming decisively abandoned the bunker and rolled into an open room door to his side and rear.

Almost the moment he left, the green energy stream swept across the bunker, slicing off a large chunk of concrete and metal as if it were a hot knife through butter!

He rolled into the room, which was a storage room piled with discarded instruments. The Scarab chased him to the door, but its large size caused it to get stuck in the door frame for a moment as it adjusted its posture to squeeze in.

Opportunity! Lin Qiming grabbed a fragmentation grenade from his waist, pulled the pin, timed it carefully, and rolled it with force from the blind spot beneath the Scarab's abdomen!

The grenade rolled accurately beneath the Scarab's abdomen, pressing right against its body.

BOOM!!!

The explosion was exceptionally violent in the confined space! Shrapnel and shockwaves slammed into the Scarab's relatively weaker abdominal armor!

The Scarab was blasted upward, emitting a piercing sound of twisting metal, its legs flailed wildly, and its green energy core flickered violently, clearly affected!

But it didn't fall! The abdominal armor showed cracks and dents, but it hadn't been penetrated! The defensive power of Necron technology far exceeded the ordinary!

"It's still fine?!" Taking advantage of its imbalance, Lin Qiming darted out from its side and returned to the corridor.

He needed more powerful firepower, or… to attack its weak point.

[According to the scan, its energy core is located in the center of its back, protected by heavy armor. However, after the abdominal damage, the energy transmission lines may have become unstable. It is recommended to attack its joints, especially the connection between the hind legs and the torso; the armor there is relatively weak, and it will affect its movement.] Hephaestus prompted.

The Scarab had recovered from the explosion, turned around, and its compound eyes locked onto Lin Qiming with green light, filled with the "anger" of being wounded by an ant (if Necrons had emotions).

It charged over, accelerating, its speed significantly faster than before!

While retreating, Lin Qiming quickly loaded an explosive arrow into the "Whisperer".

He needed to create an opportunity. Seeing the Scarab closing in, he violently threw his last flashbang grenade toward its head!

BANG! WHIRR—!!!

Blinding white light and piercing noise erupted again! The Scarab's sensors were clearly extremely sensitive to this kind of intense light and high-frequency noise (perhaps a design flaw, perhaps a side effect of being damaged); its entire body stiffened, its movements instantly lost coordination, and it flailed its head in place, its energy core flickering even more chaotically.

Now! Lin Qiming steadied himself, aimed at the connection between the Scarab's right hind leg and its torso, and fired the explosive arrow!

Whoosh—BOOM!

The arrow hit the joint gap accurately and then detonated! The small explosive charge wasn't enough to blow off the metal limb, but the impact of the explosion successfully destroyed the joint structure!

The Scarab's right hind leg emitted a nasty sound of metal tearing, bent to the side, and lost its support!

Having lost a leg, the Scarab's balance was thrown into chaos; it crashed onto its side on the ground, its six legs flailing uselessly as it tried to flip itself over.

Its Gauss firing port pointed randomly in all directions, shooting out a few scattered streams of energy, opening several holes in the walls and ceiling.

Lin Qiming did not miss this opportunity. He stepped forward quickly, circled to the Scarab's side, avoided its still-active limbs and randomly firing Gauss rays, and drew his fine dagger.

With the dagger's [Sharp] effect and the boost of D-rank strength, he aimed at a deep crack in the Scarab's neck (the connection between the head and torso) that seemed to be an old wound, stabbed it in with all his might, and followed through with a downward cut!

Crack! Sshhh—

Amid the mixed sounds of metal snapping and energy leaking, the dagger successfully cut through some of the conduits and outer armor!

A thick stream of green energy sprayed out from the cut like blood, carrying a bone-chilling coldness and crackling arcs of electricity!

The Scarab's struggle suddenly intensified, then rapidly weakened. The light in its compound eyes dimmed rapidly and finally extinguished. The energy core in its torso also stopped flickering, falling into complete, deathly silence.

[Target confirmed inactive.] Hephaestus reported.

Lin Qiming panted, pulled out his dagger, stepped back a few paces, and watched the motionless metal corpse on the ground vigilantly.

The battle hadn't lasted long, but it was extremely dangerous and consumed a huge amount of energy. His left shoulder armor had been grazed by the Gauss ray, showing signs of decomposition at the edge, and it throbbed with pain. His HP had dropped by about 15 points.

"Taking down just one disabled, energy-starved Scarab was this much effort…" He wiped the sweat from his forehead, "If I ran into one that was completely intact, or came across a whole swarm…"

He didn't dare to think further and quickly checked himself and his equipment. Fortunately, his main equipment was undamaged.

He looked at the Scarab's remains, hesitated for a moment, and carefully used his dagger to pry open the cover of the energy core on its back (which had already been loosened by the battle).

Inside was a fist-sized, cracked, green crystal core whose light had completely extinguished.

He tried to make contact with the stc core; there was almost no energy feedback, only some chaotic, fragmented streams of information filled with destruction and cold logic, which had extremely low absorption value and could potentially bring information pollution.

"Forget it, Necron technology is too sinister; better not mess with it." He gave up on absorbing it and turned his gaze toward the laboratory the Scarab had emerged from. Perhaps the thing he truly wanted was in there.

He cautiously walked into the laboratory. It was also in a mess inside, but on a violently destroyed energy containment platform in the center, some things remained—a few larger fragments of Ancient Ones metal shimmering with pure blue light, and a base remnant about half a meter high, which, although severely damaged, still had an identifiable structure, resembling a signal transmitter or repeater!

ancient ones relics! And they looked like part of a facility!

More importantly, [Abyss Gazer] and the stc core simultaneously transmitted a strong sense of resonance and pull! The target was right before his eyes!

[Experienced a thrilling battle, killed damaged Necron Scarab x1!]

[Experience Points + 1200!]

[Combat Test: Accumulated combat experience against Necron units, [Combat Prediction] proficiency slightly increased.]

[Health Points: 83 / 98 (Minor injury, left shoulder armor damaged).]

[Key Target Found: Ancient Ones repeater remains and attached fragments!]

[System Evaluation: Congratulations, you have successfully achieved the beginner achievement of 'Soloing a Necron unit (Disabled Edition)' in the Warhammer universe. The reward is: a cold sweat, a few scars, and a clear realization of your own combat power (you're still a noob). However, the treasure is right before your eyes; it's time to see what kind of treasure chest your 'key' (stc core) can open.]