Chapter 23: Slaying the Elite Frenzied Mole, Annihilating the Frenzied Mole Nest

"Begin, chip. Scan and analyze the surrounding environment. Search for small berserker mole rat nests." As he moved forward, Zhang Ran silently issued the command to the chip in his mind.

In the midst of a fierce battle, the chip's feedback might not match Zhang Ran's instinctive reactions, but when it came to tasks like environmental memory and analysis—not dependent on split-second decisions—the chip had an overwhelming advantage over the human brain. That was why Zhang Ran could confidently entrust it with the task of locating berserker mole rat nests.

"Ding! Small berserker mole rat nest detected. The exact location has been marked for you!"

Not even twenty minutes had passed before the chip's notification sounded in Zhang Ran's ear. Simultaneously, a red marker appeared before his eyes, pinpointing the location of the nest.

Following the chip's guidance, Zhang Ran arrived at the entrance of the small berserker mole rat nest—a tunnel about eighty centimeters in diameter, burrowing straight down into the earth, its depths invisible at a glance.

"Not bad. Time to get to work."

Examining the relatively fresh tracks beside the nest’s entrance, Zhang Ran nodded with satisfaction, reassured that this was not an abandoned hole. He hefted his combat knife and began chopping down the weeds within a two-meter radius, then stuffed the cut grass into the mouth of the tunnel.

Next, Zhang Ran retrieved his firestarter from his military backpack and lit the grass at the entrance. In moments, flames roared, and thick smoke billowed into the depths of the nest.

Since venturing into the nest was impossible, the best method was to force the berserker mole rats out. Smoke was one of the most common and cost-effective means for this—a tactic Zhang Ran had learned at the Black Hawk Training Camp.

Sure enough, less than thirty seconds later, the smoldering grass at the tunnel entrance began to tremble. Suddenly, a berserker mole rat burst from the nest, shoving aside the fiery pile.

"Die!"

A cold gleam flashed in Zhang Ran's eyes as he stomped down hard on the creature's spine, pinning it. He then raised his military knife and, with a powerful swing of the diamond-shaped blade, hacked at its neck.

Crack!

With the sound of breaking bone, the berserker mole rat's head was severed cleanly. Its body thrashed weakly for a moment before falling still. Dark red blood poured from the stump, staining the ground.

At the same time, a gentle warmth surged from the creature’s body into Zhang Ran, furthe