Under the watchful gaze of the others, Tǔgǒu sprinted toward the massive corpse of a C-rank Black Flame Serpent. Arriving at its side, he employed the scanning system embedded in his helmet to thoroughly survey the colossal beast's remains before slipping into a gaping wound along its side.
Meanwhile, Xiāo Fēng remained locked in a weary struggle with the B-rank corrupted lizard. Though fatigue weighed heavily upon him, the wounds on the creature were far from fatal. Gritting his teeth, Xiāo Fēng hoisted the cumbersome laser cannon, recharging it with a surge of potent electricity, then unleashed another searing blast upon the beast.
With the Black Flame Serpent tide vanquished, the surviving troops began to regroup. Behind Lài Sī stood a pitifully diminished force—barely a battalion left from what had been a full division just the day before. Lài Sī and the grizzled Old Huái Tè exchanged solemn looks, burdened by guilt and sorrow. The final wave of beasts had exacted a devastating toll, far beyond their grim expectations; the destructive power of the C-rank Black Flame Serpent onslaught had shattered all assumptions.
Ài Wēi's arm was wrapped in bandages, and Tè Nà's back bore a charred mark. Yet Ài Wēi, mounted upon the white wolf king Báibái, and the burly Brā Dá remained unscathed. Both Ài Lì Sī and Brā Dá had insisted that battlefields were no place for them—hence their fortunate immunity from injury.
Ài Lì Sī, astride Báibái, gazed anxiously toward the distant fray where Xiāo Fēng struggled. "Why won't you all go aid my dear brother Xiāo Fēng? If you don't hurry, I shall truly be upset…"
Old Huái Tè reassured her softly, "We have already arranged reinforcements for Xiāo Fēng. The latest superweapon will be delivered momentarily."
Ài Lì Sī shook her head, her concern unwavering. "But he's in such grave danger…"
"Have faith. Your brother Xiāo Fēng will endure," Huái Tè affirmed.
At that very moment, a sudden streak of light tore across the sky, accompanied by a sonic boom that drew every eye upward. A sleek aircraft darted past, its velocity several times that of ordinary planes, nearly reaching ten times the speed of sound.
The assembled soldiers were stunned—none had ever witnessed a craft moving with such blistering swiftness.
Xiāo Fēng, lifting his weary gaze, caught sight of the vessel and allowed a faint smile to grace his fatigued visage. It was the very aircraft he recognized: Hé Bǐ Lái's trident-shaped warplane.
Its true name: the Neptune Trident.
The Neptune Trident decelerated abruptly above the battlefield before descending rapidly. Its cargo bay doors swung open, releasing a slender infantry weapon far more delicate than the cumbersome laser cannon.
Then, with a sudden burst, the Trident soared upward and vanished.
Kǎi Ruì's communicator blinked to life. "Kǎi Ruì, the weapon has arrived. Use it with care. I've ordered the Trident to return immediately—there's only one, and I'd be heartbroken if it sustained damage. I'm transmitting the operating instructions for the Arcane Light Cannon now."
Kǎi Ruì nodded grimly. "Understood… Send it over. Xiāo Fēng is barely holding on."
The communicator's screen displayed a tutorial video on the Arcane Light Cannon's operation. Being sharp-witted, Kǎi Ruì grasped its use after a single viewing.
He lifted the cannon and powered it up. Inside, a green-hued magic crystal was chambered—an E-rank gem, evident by its color. According to the instructional video, this crystal permitted only two shots, and the weapon's destructive force remained modest.
Just then, Tǔgǒu emerged from the Black Flame Serpent's carcass, clutching a massive purple crystal, his body slick with foul slime.
"I found it…" he declared, brandishing the C-rank magic crystal as he staggered toward Lài Sī.
Without hesitation, Kǎi Ruì ejected the green E-rank crystal from the cannon's chamber and replaced it with the glowing purple C-rank crystal.
The Arcane Light Cannon hummed to life anew, now suffused with a radiant violet glow—ethereal and almost alien in its brilliance.
Kǎi Ruì moved behind Xiāo Fēng, the cannon's small sight popping up automatically. He raised the weapon, fixed his gaze through the scope upon the B-rank corrupted lizard soaring above, and without hesitation, fired the first shot.
Xiāo Fēng's brow furrowed in surprise. The beam differed in hue from the laser cannon's typical discharge. The violet ray sliced cleanly through the beast's scaly hide, tearing through one wing as if it were paper.
Whirling to Kǎi Ruì, Xiāo Fēng exclaimed, "Damn, what kind of weapon is that?!"
Kǎi Ruì grinned with pride. "The latest from Brom Company—a weapon freed from reliance on electric charge, powered solely by magic crystals. The higher the crystal's grade, the more devastating its beam. Impressive, isn't it?"
He continued firing relentlessly.
Witnessing the augmented carnage wrought by the Arcane Light Cannon, Xiāo Fēng lowered his laser weapon, eyes fixed on the battered beast. Its agonized cries pierced the air as each shot shredded its flesh, denying it even a moment to unleash flame.
Finally, the B-rank monster could bear no more. Letting out a proud roar, its damaged wings fluttered wildly as it fled into the distance.
"Don't let it escape, Kǎi Ruì!" Xiāo Fēng shouted desperately.
The creature's formidable defenses and broad, powerful wings made it swift in flight.
Kǎi Ruì continued firing the cannon with unwavering resolve, but still, the creature vanished beyond reach. Exhausted, Xiāo Fēng sank to the ground, tossing his laser cannon aside in frustration.
Fixing Kǎi Ruì with a weary glare, he muttered, "Damn, are you related to this B-rank demon lizard or what? I'm nearly spent trying to wear it down, and then you show up."
"What choice did I have? The Arcane Light Cannon just arrived—if it hadn't, we'd still be helpless," Kǎi Ruì replied.
Sitting on the ground, gasping for breath, Xiāo Fēng felt his strength slipping away. "Damn… The worst part is, it still managed to escape…"