Rice pointed toward the shadow looming high above and asked Xiao Feng with disbelief, "What is that?"
Xiao Feng furrowed his brow, gazing upward to discern the distant silhouette. Though the distance blurred the figure, he was certain it was no aircraft. Raising the sniper scope of the Black Angel, he peered intently—and was struck dumbfounded. "Impossible..."
Rice, puzzled, pressed, "What did you see? Why impossible?"
"I saw a flying dragon."
Rice snatched the Black Angel from Xiao Feng's hands, eyes fixed skyward. "Damn... it really is a dragon."
Xiao Feng seized Rice's communication headset, urgency in his voice: "Professor Mark! Professor Mark! What on earth is flying over our battlefield?"
Mark's voice crackled through swiftly, "Give me a moment to lock onto it—its speed is extraordinary..." Moments later, Mark's tone turned grave: "Unbelievable... it's a Grade B magical beast—a mutated lizard."
"A lizard? Not a dragon? But how can a lizard fly?"
"Like a six-legged black panther growing two extra legs after mutation, this lizard sprouted wings through its corruption. It's nothing unusual. But make no mistake—that's not a dragon. Dragons have slender, elongated necks. Look closely at this lizard's neck—thick and short."
Xiao Feng examined carefully, confirming the lizard's stocky neck. "So, it's truly a lizard..."
Mark cautioned, "Don't let the word 'lizard' lull you into complacency. This is a Grade B magical beast. You must remain vigilant. Ordinary weapons won't penetrate its defense. Moreover, it attacks with fireballs so intense they can melt steel."
Xiao Feng frowned. "That formidable?"
He turned to Rice. "Order the fighters to encircle it. If missiles fail, switch to laser cannons."
"Understood." Rice promptly issued commands. Several planes continued pounding the black flame serpents below, while others ascended toward the corrupted lizard.
A pilot reported to Rice, "Commander Rice, our ammunition is running low."
"Fire two missiles and assess. If they fail, switch to laser cannons immediately."
"Copy that."
Suddenly, a fighter launched two missiles at the mutated lizard. Explosions echoed, but the beast's roars were unyielding—no significant damage inflicted, not even a scratch on its armored scales.
Watching the monitor, Xiao Feng muttered, "Its defenses are too strong. Reptilian scales are naturally tough, and mutation has amplified them manyfold. Missiles are ineffective. Only laser cannons can make a dent."
"Yet laser cannons have limited charges. If these fighters exhaust their energy, they still might not bring down the beast."
"Try anyway. Issue the order!"
Rice fixed his gaze on the circling figure above. "All fighters, switch to laser cannon assault!"
"Roger."
Simultaneously, several fighters unleashed thick, crimson laser beams upon the mutated lizard. The humming beams tore chunks from its armor. The beast screamed in agony, retaliating by hurling rapid-fire fireballs, scorching and obliterating several fighters in fiery explosions.
On the ground, Xiao Feng's heart clenched at the loss—such fighters were priceless assets to the X Legion.
Turning to Rice, he demanded, "Give me your laser cannon."
Rice understood immediately—only a weapon like that wielded by Xiao Feng could inflict even minor harm on this Grade B beast. Laser cannons required immense energy; even the ones mounted on fighters only allowed three shots each. But in Xiao Feng's hands, they transformed into a devastating weapon.
Rice handed over his depleted laser cannon.
Xiao Feng inserted his finger into the charging port, channeling an immense surge of electricity that rapidly replenished the cannon's power.
Once again, Rice bore witness to Xiao Feng's miraculous prowess—the laser cannon swiftly brimmed with energy.
"Order all fighters back to base. I'll handle the rest."
Rice's faith in Xiao Feng was unshakable. Wherever Xiao Feng stood, miracles unfolded.
The fighters swiftly withdrew. Cradling the laser cannon, Xiao Feng faced the colossal, winged Grade B mutated lizard. With a sharp hum, he fired the first blast—an intense scarlet beam striking precisely at the beast's wound.
The lizard howled, writhing in burning agony, its crimson eyes blazing with fury as if it wished to tear Xiao Feng limb from limb.
Yet Xiao Feng remained unfazed by its wrath. He danced across the battlefield, firing relentlessly. To the mutated lizard, his laser cannon was akin to a child's pea shooter—modest in power but excruciating with every strike.
Xiao Feng's unparalleled agility and formidable skill unsettled the beast profoundly. His swift movements made evading the Grade B magical beast's attacks almost effortless.
Like a silkworm methodically devouring a leaf, speed was paramount—for the faster you moved, the greater the area you could consume.
Xiao Feng's assault gradually intensified; each shot was flawlessly precise, striking the lizard's vulnerable spots.
Slow and steady wins the race—especially when every shot carried the searing power of laser fire.
Such a weapon's true potential could only be unlocked by someone like Xiao Feng, an evolved psychic wielding electric energy. Ordinary individuals couldn't meet the laser cannon's insatiable appetite for power. Even if one had a power station constantly charging it, at this critical juncture of life and death, a single power station would prove woefully insufficient.
All eyes remained fixed on the Grade B magical beast hovering above—if anyone could claim its magical crystal, what unimaginable wealth that would represent.