Chapter 160

Chapter 160: The Player Personally Stepping In

"Creak… creak… creak…"

Trilobite was gnawing and swallowing the upper body of the Titan Chirper in big bites.

He had spent a lot on bite force upgrades, and it paid off—he nearly bit the weak Titan Chirper in half with one chomp.

Now, the Titan Chirper’s lower part, the abdomen and four pairs of walking legs, lay under the large mushroom, kicking and twitching. Insects have a spread-out nervous system, so they die slowly.

After all, many insects can live a long time even without heads.

Meanwhile, the Titan Chirper’s upper body, including its grasping legs, was being crunched in Trilobite’s mouth.

“Mmm, it tastes good.”

“I’ve eaten fried locusts, and it’s similar.”

“If they added salt or cumin, it would be tastier.”

Trilobite thought maybe his stomach was getting used to raw food, or he was just fooling himself; now, when he ate raw stuff, it felt like cooked meals.

“Thank goodness this world has so many ‘mushrooms.’”

“Hmm…”

“I just recalled, Orthopteran bugs like locusts hate wet places such as rainforests.”

“Because there’s tons of fungi and parasitic fungus threads there.”

But Trilobite hadn’t forgotten why he was there.

Even if he did, someone reminded him.

“Buzz—!”

The Trilobite Mantis flew before him, flapping her wings in a panic.

She seemed desperate to report something.

Actually, he knew without her saying a word.

He could tell from the "symbiotic creature" icons in the System.

“Hmm…”

“The number one spawn, the blonde young lady—the Trilobite Mantis buzzing around me—looked very worried and worn out.”

“The number two spawn, the red-haired young lady, seemed pretty down.”

“The number three spawn was the white-haired sister I’d just gotten to counter the foe…”

“Wow!”

He suddenly saw the third spawn’s icon flashing an ominous red!

And then…

“Roar roar roar roar—!”

From where the Titan Chirper came, the Lake Dragon unleashed a shattering roar of rage!

“No wonder I hunted the Titan Chirper so easily without trouble; the jumping spider young lady had bought me time.”

"Then I couldn’t let her kindness go to waste!"

"What’s more, daring to bully my paper young lady…"

"You really think I’m fake?!"

"Roar—!"

Trilobite roared angrily, running while sniffing the air.

"This way!"

Whether understanding his words or sharing a connection, the Trilobite Mantis charged straight toward the Lake Dragon, trying to draw its attention.

But Trilobite didn’t confront it head-on.

"The Lake Dragon’s claws are weak—its head’s the real threat!"

"Gotta find the right attack angle."

He circled sideways instead of charging frontally.

Meanwhile…

"Ball Joint Armor, go!"

As an early-game skill, Ball Joint Armor had fallen behind.

Yet Trilobite knew it remained useful like Taunting for one reason:

It stacked!

"Buzz—!"

Without hesitation, he hurled twenty Ball Joint Armors onto his Symbiotic Creature No. 1, the Trilobite Mantis, then shielded himself eighteen times.

Magic overflowed anyway!

"Good!"

The sturdy Peter Foot Salamander halted, lying low as it squinted at the Trilobite Mantis bravely charging the colossal Lake Dragon.

Her fearless rush looked almost tragic.

A pang of guilt hit Trilobite—he felt like scum sending his paper young lady into danger.

But then he reconsidered…

"Don’t mobile games always send paper girls to battle while you watch safely?"

"When did masters, Dokutahs, commanders, or admirals ever fight personally?"

"Aren’t heroic spirits, operators, androids, and ship girls always taking the hits?"

"Compared to them, I’m a model player—leading every fight myself!"

Heartened as the "model player," Mr. Trilobite refocused on the hunt.

He watched the Lake Dragon take the bait—abandoning its immobilized jumping spider prey to charge the blonde young lady.

Unaware, it exposed its vulnerable flank to another ruthless predator!

"Closer… closer…"

"Very good!"

"Now’s the time!"

"Boom—!"

Trilobite burst from the "mushroom cluster."

He swung his body and charged forward!

"Damn it!"

"This body!"

"Such a scam!"

Initially, Trilobite felt satisfied with his upgrade.

But sprinting revealed how unprepared he truly was.

His primitive tibia and pelvis forced him to twist his vertebrae side-to-side while running. The exaggerated motion engaged too many muscles, making movement highly inefficient.

Worse, this running style couldn’t achieve speed.

Pushing too hard compressed his crude lungs, reducing their already poor efficiency. Soon he’d gasp for air, forced to stop and recover.

These frustrations made Trilobite want to slam his body against the ground.

"But…"

"Know why I kept aquatic four-legged features instead of upgrading to amniotes?"

"Because water four-leggers have special talents!"

"Go—!"

Trilobite twisted rapidly but halted after few strides.

He lunged forward!

"Bang!"

"Boom—!"

His heavy frame slammed earthward, shaking the world.

Then…

"Whoosh—!"

Freshly "bought" glands secreted thick, slippery mucus around him. Paired with his streamlined shape, he resembled a giant mudskipper.

The slime lubricated his belly and the parched ground, letting him glide snowboard-fast across dry land!

Short but powerful limbs scrabbled—claws gripping soil before thrusting hard.

"Whoosh—whoosh—!"

Trilobite slid beside the Lake Dragon instantly.

"Ah—woo—!"

Only then did the Lake Dragon react!

It jerked its neck toward the commotion.

The creature froze at the colossal head hurtling toward it.

"This Ether Dragon…"

"Swims on land!?"

"Damn—!"

Chaos Demon God Momo roared in shock.

Likely his last complete sentence!

Because…

"Ah—um—!"

The abyss-like maw yawned wide!