Ares deployed its parachute the moment it entered the atmosphere. It crossed the distance of tens of thousands of kilometers before it landed safely on the Mars surface and created a wave of dust.

The buckles on the cushion seats popped open and the astronauts stepped down.

Everyone cheered in excitement when they finally felt gravity.

“We have succeeded!”

“Successful landing! NICE!”

“…!”

Ten minutes ago, they were staring at the radar in fear, afraid that Celestial Trade may accidentally launch a missile toward them. But unexpectedly, Celestial Trade did not interfere with them. They did not even communicate with them and just watched them land in silence…

It was too strange.

Did they not detect us? But how is that possible!

In the midst of joy, Bris also grew uneasy.

For some reason, he felt that the people from Celestrial Trade were watching them. They silently watched with neither surprise or astonishment, but mockery and sly, as if they were watching a drama…

I hope it’s just my illusion.

Bris shook his head and forced a smile. He celebrated with his teammates and blended into the jubilant atmosphere.

The radio transceiver extended on top of Ares and aimed at the satellite on the orbit. The signal would be relayed to mission control back on Earth via the satellite .

Because of the few minutes of communication delay, everyone only could say one sentence.

Bris grabbed the radio and exchanged a look of excitement with his teammates, he took a deep breath and changed into a serious expression, then he pressed the button and looked at the lens.

“Calling Mission Control, this is Ares. We have landed successfully!”

While Bris still had a lot to say, when he saw the exhilarated state from his teammates, he ended the communication and handed the radio to the nearest teammate.

“We have succeeded! We have succeeded!” The beautiful astronaut with blonde hair got in front of the camera and shouted with enthusiasm. “We are on Mars now! The desert looks like it’s on fire, this is probably the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen in my life.”

“The weather here is very sunny, and we are fortunate that we have not encountered a sandstorm,” said the Jewish astronaut, “This is a good start. God will bless us and the UA.”

“I feel like I’m back in my hometown. It’s like the desert there! But it’s cold here. The temperature outside is only minus 50 degrees Celsius. Fortunately, there is heat in Ares, hahaha…”

“…”

Communication resources were quite valuable, leaving everyone with only a short half minute. In less than five minutes, eight astronauts all extended their wishes to their hometown far away.

The video would be broadcasted by major TV stations across the country so that everyone in UA would share this exciting moment.

In the end, Bris turned off the camera, compressed the video, and clicked send.

Then, several energetic people in the team immediately became rowdy.

“Kane, take out the champagne from the fridge! We have to celebrate this great moment! Hahaha!”

“Let’s hold off the celebration. Let’s decide who will be the first one to set foot on Mars?”

“Same rule, we’re drawing straws!”

“Drawing straws? Wait for me to wash my hands first…”

Bris smiled at the scene with how thrilled his teammates were,

Though for some odd reason, the uneasiness in his heart was getting stronger and stronger.

Before he came, he did a lot of homework.

The mainstream view of the UA biology community believed Devil Worms’ threat was only poorly-constructed propaganda made by Celestial Trade to monopolize Mars colonization. Devil Worms would not attack unless they were attacked.

Otherwise, why did Celestial Trade only attack this year when they already landed a long time ago? If it was not for the fact that they drilled down and poked a hole in the Devil Worms’ nest, why would the bugs living in the mantle attack the surface?

As long as you don’t ask to be attacked, you won’t be attacked.

It was NASA’s advice to these pioneers.

However, these were only speculations in UA’s biological community.

No UA citizen participated in Devil Worm’s research. Even the most knowledgeable scientists only viewed Devil Worms behind a glass.

Is the habit of insects on Mars the same as the insects on Earth?

This is really hard to say.

After all, there are no insects on the planet that are bigger than humans.

Just as Bris debated this in his mind, the draw already ended.

The lucky winner was a skinny man.

His name was Sean and he came from California. When he found out that he won the draw, he almost jumped in excitement.

He headed to the buffer cabin, then put on the heavy spacesuit with the help of his teammates. After confirming that the data of the spacesuit was normal, he took the star-spangled flag solemnly from his captain Bris. He watched the inward door close, the outward open, and then gently jumped out toward the desert.

In Ares, Bris prayed and opened the camera. Several other teammates also rushed to take out their phones and other camera equipment to capture and commemorate this great moment.

When his feet landed on the side, Sean carried the flag and waved to his teammates behind him.

When he saw the raised thumbs, he turned around, full of emotions, as he marched to the sand dune where he would place the star-spangled flag.

Ten meters left.

The flag of the UA will fly on Mars.

The monopoly Celestial Trade has on Mars will end…

Just then, he suddenly felt a tremor below his feet.

“Is it an earthquake?” Sean frowned.

He was a geologist who conducted extensive research before this mission. In his memory, the geological environment of Mars was quite stable; to the point that it seemed like a dead planet. There was no volcanic activity nor tectonic plate shifts. How could an earthquake happen?

“Is it a sandstorm?”

As he muttered, he still took a step forward.

However, his foot did manage to come down-

BOOM!

Without the slightest omen.

A 20-meter-long giant worm crawled out from the ground and sent the astronaut into the air.

It was too late to even scream as its sharp mandibles already crushed together with lightning speed, snapping him in half. His guts and flesh flew freely in the air and soaked the dry and barren land with fresh blood.

“AAHHHH!”

The people inside Ares screamed. Some people stood there in silence, completely traumatized by the scene they just witnessed. Some people started to vomit. Some people sat down and whispered Amen…

Bris slowly put the camera he was holding down as he stared in front of him blankly. He watched the Devil Worm skillfully suck the flesh and blood out of the spacesuit and move its countless legs. His lips quivered in fear and he was unable to say a single word. He forgot to turn off the power on the camera.

It was not the first time they saw Devil Worms.

On their way to Mars, they saw photos of Devil Worms from mission control and were told not to irritate them and not to approach their nests.

However, it was their first time seeing a Devil Worm that moved…

What scared and puzzled them the most was that they did not do anything.

Why did the monster stalk them?!

In the synchronous orbit, TS Expedition captured the cruel scene.

The captain of TS Expedition stared coldly at the bug in the scene and repeated the situation to the Space Command Center.

Soon, a detailed report of the entire accident was placed on Jiang Chen’s desk.

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