96: Please, brother, can you please not choose this time to show off?!

On the edge of the Toxic Water Swamp.

The Azure Python slid, narrowly dodging an attack from a Level 6 Claw-Ripping Eagle.

His focus was now at its absolute peak.

He felt as if his entire body's potential was being mobilized like never before.

Although the Azure Python's evolution progress had slowed, Zhao Silver Snake could clearly feel that his integration with the Azure Python had exceeded 30% during this crisis.

If he could miraculously escape with his life, then all he would need to do is steadily make up for the lost evolution progress, and advancing to a Level 5 biological train would be a certainty.

He dove deep into the mud, using the murky water to obscure the Claw-Ripping Eagle's vision.

However, this was only a temporary measure.

The Claw-Ripping Eagle's eyes could detect the slightest movement.

Unless he could burrow dozens of meters underground in one go, the thin obstruction of the mud would be useless against the Claw-Ripping Eagle's razor-sharp, ten-meter-long talons.

Even with the help of his serpent doppelganger, he could only buy a few more seconds before being discovered by the Claw-Ripping Eagle.

The Azure Python was like a clown walking a tightrope.

The Claw-Ripping Eagle could make countless mistakes, but if he made even one, he would die.

And this wasn't even the most dangerous part of his escape.

The grassy shallows at the junction of the Toxic Water Swamp and the Green Mist Forest were the most perilous.

Although the distance was only one or two kilometers, that stretch of road offered no cover whatsoever.

The Claw-Ripping Eagle could attack without restraint, soaring low.

If it were to attack without regard for the cost, its innate skill, Rending Wind Blade, could be unleashed multiple times.

Now, it all depended on whether that mechanical train was willing to lend a hand.

Zhao Silver Snake hadn't lied; he did indeed possess a Level 4 Iron Mine Collection Point located within the Toxic Water Swamp.

The blueprint for an orange quality mechanical train-specific component had also dropped by chance during a hunt.

Originally, he had planned to trade it, but now it was perfectly suitable as a bargaining chip for a rescue.

It just depended on whether the other party found it appealing.

After all, it was just about providing support, not fighting a Level 6 Claw-Ripping Eagle to the death.

Thinking this, Zhao Silver Snake quickly glanced at the Azure Python's biological radar.

Then, a look of joy instantly appeared on his face.

The other party really came.

But… wait!!!

Why does it only show Level 3?!

A Level 3 mechanical train?!!

What a joke! Why doesn't a Level 3 train just stay in the beginner zone and lord over it? What's it doing running to the Intermediate Zone?

And can you please not be so warm-hearted?!!

If you can't handle the job, don't force it!

This left Zhao Silver Snake in a dilemma.

He was already close to his limit.

Turning back: physical exhaustion, certain death!

Continuing forward: open ground, no obstacles, no effective support, still certain death!

These are all options that lead to certain death, what's the point of struggling?!

Isn't this too much of a trap?!

Amidst his indecision, the Azure Python narrowly escaped another attack from the Claw-Ripping Eagle.

A wound was torn open on his lower abdomen.

Though not large, Zhao Silver Snake was already too weak to mend it.

Signals transmitted through the Azure Python's nervous system indicated a burning, salty pain that intensified with every movement.

He felt like he really couldn't hold on any longer.

Just as he was gradually sinking into despair, Zhao Silver Snake suddenly heard a long-unheard human voice from above the Toxic Water Swamp where he was located.

“Hello, hello, Azure Python, this is the Xinhuo Train.”

“Based on the information collected on site, the mission risk is judged to be low, and the Xinhuo Train has decided to participate in your rescue.”

“Please follow the instructions of the reconnaissance drone and move into the designated position.”

“Otherwise, the Xinhuo Train will not be responsible for any accidental injuries caused by the rescue!!!”

Zhao Silver Snake: “???”

If he wasn't being chased, he really wanted to run up to that darn Train Captain of the Xinhuo Train and point at his nose, asking, “Do you even hear yourself?!”

Low mission risk?

Decided to participate in the rescue?

Anyone can say witty remarks; Zhao Silver Snake didn't want to dwell on it too much at a time like this.

But what did those last two sentences mean?

Move into the designated position, otherwise, not responsible for accidental injuries?!!

This is the Intermediate Zone, not the beginner zone!

And he was facing a Level 6 Claw-Ripping Eagle, not some Level 3 nobody.

Brother, if you want to show off, can you please not choose this moment?

Zhao Silver Snake suddenly felt so tired, like a monkey being played with.

When the Claw-Ripping Eagle attacked the Azure Python again, he was even a bit slow to dodge.

Of course, part of the reason was that he was willing but unable.

He wanted to dodge, but the Azure Python was already having trouble moving.

Just then, he heard several sharp whistling sounds coming from the direction of the Inner Green Mist Forest.

Those were several thick crossbow bolts, over a meter long.

Zhao Silver Snake recognized them at a glance as being fired from the Repeating Ballista, a vehicle component that comes with a Level 1 train.

Leaving aside whether the range was sufficient or if they could even hit, even if they did hit, could these things really harm the Claw-Ripping Eagle?

That was a Level 6 Claw-Ripping Eagle!

Even if you liked using Repeating Ballistas and had upgraded the crossbow bolt production line with upgrade stones, it couldn't possibly be luxurious enough to upgrade a white quality basic component to Level 6, could it?!

His internal grumbling had not yet finished.

In a flash, Zhao Silver Snake only heard several Bang bang bang sounds.

Then came a shrill shriek.

It sounded like the Claw-Ripping Eagle's!

The strong wind that was about to descend also suddenly vanished with that shriek.

Zhao Silver Snake looked up at the sky with his binoculars.

He saw that the Claw-Ripping Eagle circling in the sky was indeed injured.

Three crossbow bolts were embedded in its right wing.

Although compared to the Claw-Ripping Eagle's size, the crossbow bolts were not much larger than toothpicks, and the wound was not too big.

But that was the Claw-Ripping Eagle's vital wing!

More importantly, the crossbow bolts fired from the white quality Repeating Ballista component from the Xinhuo Train, which he had looked down upon, actually managed to injure the opponent.

Could it be that the other party's crossbow bolt production line was really upgraded to Level 6?!

This world is too fantastical, isn't it?!

What made Zhao Silver Snake feel even more fantastical was that he saw several cannons with their barrels raised high on the nearby Xinhuo Train.

There were small autocannons and also large-caliber heavy cannons.

There was also one covered in silver patterns, with an intimidatingly long barrel, clearly not an ordinary item at first glance.

No, can a Level 3 train really possess this?

The other party's train's iron armor doesn't seem to be lower than Level 5, right?

Something's not right, very not right!

The biological radar must be malfunctioning.

The other party is definitely a Level 6 train, possessing anti-detection components.

That's why it shows up as Level 3 on the biological radar.

Otherwise, how could he speak with such confidence?

If this were the case, everything would make sense.

Thinking this, a strong joy of surviving a disaster rose in Zhao Silver Snake's heart.

He was joyous to have escaped from the Claw-Ripping Eagle and also relieved that he hadn't said anything inappropriate just now to offend the other party.

He opened the Azure Python's biological amplifier sac, similar to a loudspeaker, and with deep admiration, said, “Big shot, thank you for saving my life, you are practically my second parents!”

“I was scared stiff when I saw the Claw-Ripping Eagle coming earlier, thanks to you for extending a helping hand.”

“Now you say, wherever you tell me to swim, I will swim, not deviating a millimeter from the route.”

“If I stray, I deserve to be killed by your cannons, and I will have no complaints whatsoever.”