Infinite Cosmic Cafeteria Chapter 24: 3-Star Ingredient

Translator: Stellar Novels Editor: Stellar Novels

Bocchi took out an old, yellowed map from the storage box and pointed to a light yellow area on it, saying, “We’re here now, in a Level 1 Hunting Zone, which is also where some smaller hunting groups operate.

“If we go a bit further, we’ll enter a Level 2 Hunting Zone. The prey there is more abundant but also more dangerous. The guild recommends that only hunting teams with some experience and at least four members enter. But with our current strength, we should be able to take on the challenge.”

Ma Lu looked at the map and curiously pointed to a dark red area at the very edge. “And what about here?”

“That’s the Death Zone. Only diamond-ranked hunting groups with elite teams of a hundred members, fully prepared, dare to venture there. Even then, the casualty rate for each hunt remains alarmingly high.”

Bocchi paused before adding, “The Golden-Spotted Cheetah also lives there.”

When he mentioned this, his face remained expressionless, but his clenched fists betrayed his true thoughts.

Ma Lu patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry, the Double Sunflower Hunting Group will hunt in that area someday.”

That place clearly marked the activity zone of high-level monsters, which meant good loot was to be had.

“It’s too dangerous,” Bocchi shook his head.

“No worries, I’m not afraid of dying. As long as you’re ready, we can set off anytime.”

Ma Lu was indifferent; after all, dying would only mean losing some ingredients, and at worst, they’d make a wasted trip. Compared to the potential rewards, the risks were trivial.

Bocchi shuddered at his words but said nothing more. He simply nodded, put away the map, started the motorcycle, and drove with Ma Lu toward the Level 2 Hunting Zone.

As soon as they entered the Level 2 Hunting Zone, the Traveler's Bracelet reacted.

Ding! Congratulations, you’ve discovered a 3-star ingredient: 【Giant Claw King】. The 【Giant Claw King】 entry has been unlocked.

A new prey had appeared, and this time it was as high as 3 stars.

Ma Lu relayed this information to Bocchi, whose expression immediately turned serious, though he didn’t turn the motorcycle around.

The Giant Claw King was undoubtedly powerful, stronger than any prey they had previously encountered. But precisely because of this, it gave Bocchi a perfect opportunity to test his current strength.

To see just how much he had improved.

As Bocchi contemplated how to locate the Giant Claw King, the ground suddenly began to tremble.

A massive pincer emerged from the ground, snapping toward the motorcycle. Bocchi had no doubt that if that thing clamped down, his motorcycle would be snapped in half.

If that happened, the two of them would have to walk back to The Giant Screen on foot.

However, in the face of this sudden crisis, Bocchi remained calm. With his extraordinary reflexes, he quickly activated his Psychic Ability.

Using the water from his canteen, he instantly created seven thumb-sized mini shields.

The pincer effortlessly crushed the first three shields, encountering no resistance until it reached the fourth. 【Final Iron Wall】’s immunity effect triggered, and the pincer abruptly halted.

Bocchi steered the motorcycle through the gap with ease.

Whatever was underground seemed surprised but quickly launched a second assault, which Bocchi again countered with water shields.

After several attempts, the Giant Claw King grew visibly irritated, having repeatedly failed to catch its prey.

Switching tactics, it changed from snapping to smashing. The enormous claw came down from the sky, crashing toward the two on the ground!

Yet even this catastrophic blow was ultimately blocked by the seemingly defenseless water shields.

The Giant Claw King’s full-strength strike felt like hitting an invisible wall. This time, besides triggering 【Final Iron Wall】 and 【Strike Charge】, it also activated the effect of a blue blessing.

【Spin Around】: When a team member is struck by an overhead slashing attack while the attacker is in a state of rage, there is a 15% chance to force the attacker to spin on the spot, doubling their rage value.

This blessing had exceptionally stringent trigger conditions and a bizarre effect. Ma Lu had chosen it at the time because the other two blessing options were even less useful.

But to be honest, even Ma Lu hadn’t expected it to prove useful one day, abruptly stopping the Giant Claw King’s attack.

The Giant Claw King remained motionless for half a minute, likely busy spinning in circles underground.

But soon, the ground trembled once more, and this time the shaking was even stronger, with a discernible rhythm to it.

The next moment, two Short-Eared Link Hedgehogs emerged from the sand in front of the motorcycle.

They curled up together and unleashed all their quills without reservation.

Bocchi quickly turned the motorcycle around and steered hard, dodging most of the quills aimed at him and Ma Lu, but a few still hit the rear of the motorcycle.

Fortunately, the saddlebags on either side absorbed some of the impact; otherwise, the battery pack below would have been subjected to an impromptu piercing test.

The “King” title in Giant Claw King wasn’t just for show.

Besides its fearsome pincers, it could also summon nearby creatures weaker than itself to assist in battle.

For instance, the two Short-Eared Link Hedgehogs from earlier and the five Two-Headed Jackals now appearing on a nearby sand dune had all been “called” in by it.

Against the Giant Claw King, a prolonged battle was the last thing you wanted.

During the previous waves of attacks, Bocchi had maintained a defensive stance and could feel his strength rapidly increasing.

However, when his gaze fell on the mechanical spear at the back of the motorcycle, he noticed a new problem.

The Giant Claw King’s shell was extremely tough, nearly impervious to regular weapons. As a result, hunting groups targeting the Giant Claw King typically commissioned specialized equipment beforehand.

Such equipment was available when Bocchi was with the Harpist, but now that he had left to form Double Sunflower, funds were tight.

Given the situation, he had no choice but to press on.

Just as Bocchi was about to draw his mechanical spear, Ma Lu suddenly handed him a kitchen knife.

“Use this.”

Bocchi had seen Ma Lu dismember a Two-Headed Jackal effortlessly with this knife, knowing that the unassuming blade was actually quite sharp.

So, he accepted it without hesitation. As the Giant Claw swung again, Bocchi used his water shields to block the damage.

Seizing the moment when the claw stalled, he leapt off the motorcycle.

He extended his other hand, grabbed a protrusion on the claw, and yanked hard!

At this moment, Bocchi’s character status panel showed his strength enhancement had reached 462%, and with one powerful pull, he dragged the Giant Claw King out from beneath the sand.

Ma Lu had already seen its appearance in the ingredient guide: it looked like a king crab but with fewer legs, and its shell had a metallic sheen.

But the real-life impact was far more intense, especially with its nearly 7-meter-long body, something that couldn’t be conveyed by the guide.

This massive creature, akin to a concrete mixer, lost in a tug-of-war to Bocchi, who stood just over 1.6 meters tall.

When Bocchi yanked it out from the ground, the Giant Claw King appeared utterly bewildered.

It glanced around constantly, as if searching for answers, almost like it was about to ask, “Who am I? Where am I?”

But Bocchi’s actions were just beginning. The pull itself hadn’t caused any damage to the Giant Claw King nor counted as an attack.

With his 462% strength boost still active, Bocchi bent his legs and stomped hard on the ground. In the next instant, he soared 3 meters into the air, much like a superhero from a Marvel movie, landing squarely on the Giant Claw King’s back.

He then drove the kitchen knife into its shell.

The previously impenetrable shell parted like butter before the chef’s knife, and Bocchi easily carved a triangular opening.

Without hesitation, he struck again!

Sensing the threat, the Giant Claw King desperately twisted its body, trying to burrow back into the sand.

But Bocchi’s expertise as a top student wasn’t just for show; he accurately located the creature’s weak point and swiftly severed its neural ganglia.

In the next moment, the Giant Claw King went limp, like a battery-operated toy suddenly deprived of power, and its massive body crashed lifelessly to the ground.

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