Xiao Feng staggered out slowly from a wall riddled with holes. Surveying the scene before him, he instinctively rubbed his aching head and crouched down. The brutal collision from Ares moments ago had nearly split his skull.
Countless gleaming bullets pounded relentlessly against Ares's body. Though Ares possessed a formidable defensive ability, under the oppressive assault of the rush, all hope of escape had vanished.
Round after round struck Ares's flesh. Minutes later, the muscles on his arm were completely shattered, leaving behind nothing but two pale, bare bones. Unlike Hades's mechanical arm, Ares's were two seemingly ordinary human limbs.
The mech warriors ceased fire; in those few minutes, all their ammunition was expended. At Ares's feet lay a pile of deformed shell casings.
The mech warriors stared coldly at the monstrous figure before them — the so-called God of War — who, having endured such a hailstorm of bullets, still stood unwavering.
Ares slowly lowered his arm, his face twisted into a grotesque grimace. Half of the muscles on one side of his face had been blasted away, exposing a skeletal visage beneath. His clenched teeth were visible with chilling clarity.
With a fierce glare, Ares growled, "Stop shooting... I surrender... I surrender..." He then reached up, plucked a deformed bullet embedded in his facial muscle, and tossed it onto the pile of shells.
Gasping for breath, Xiao Feng looked at Ares and muttered, "Damn, you really are a monster. That bastard Black Dragon just left you here, abandoned you. Look at the kind of friends you have…"
Ares's eyes glinted icily as he regarded Xiao Feng. To him, Xiao Feng was the true monster — mutilated by Black Dragon's tentacles, yet still wielding such immense fighting power was utterly unfathomable. "You are the real monster. Now I understand why the alliance is so intent on killing you. People like you will be the downfall of our faction sooner or later."
"Hmph. I don't care about that. Tonight, you killed the wrong people. I won't let you off so easily. I'm sparing your life for now, but when I catch Black Dragon, I'll kill you both — to avenge Turner and Ivy. And I'll carve your flesh off piece by piece with a blade, so you die in unbearable agony, you scoundrels…"
Xiao Feng checked the sniper rifle beside him, then beckoned to Baibai, who leapt to his side. Xiao Feng vaulted onto Baibai's back and addressed Rice and the others: "I'm leaving Black Whale City in your hands. I'm going after Black Dragon — make him pay with Ivy and Turner."
The heavily wounded Old White was hoisted up by the burly Brada. He called out anxiously, "Kid, don't go. It's too dangerous for you alone..."
Xiao Feng carried the Black Angel on his back, his expression grim as he replied, "Uncle, just let me go. If I don't, I won't be able to rest. Bury Ivy and Turner properly for me. Also, dig graves for Black Dragon and that bastard — I'll return to bury them myself."
With that, Xiao Feng patted Baibai's head. Baibai howled at the sky, then caught the scent of Black Dragon in the air and took off in swift pursuit.
This night was destined to be yet another sleepless one in Black Whale City.
Alice, upon hearing of Ivy's death, broke down into hysterical sobs. Though she and Ivy had vied for Xiao Feng's favor, they shared a deep bond. The beautiful little girl wept until she fainted several times; at her tender age, such a loss was unbearable.
Rice and the others hid the God of War Ares overnight, unwilling to leave him at the military camp. Just as Hades had been rescued by Poseidon after being captured, now that they held Ares, the seven gods of the shrine would surely send forces to reclaim him — a disaster looming over the X Legion.
Therefore, Rice dared not keep Ares at the camp and secretly relocated him elsewhere.
...
Xiao Feng and Baibai pursued the trail through the entire night. Baibai ran tirelessly the whole time. Black Dragon's escape skills impressed Xiao Feng profoundly. The scent of Black Dragon was indelibly etched in their memories — they would never forget that smell.
Black Dragon fled due east. Through the darkness on the barren plains, only Baibai could keep pace.
The wolf king displayed the clan's resilience, running without pause all night — after all, Ivy had been a close companion to Baibai.
Wild beasts appeared to harass them along the way, but beneath Baibai's commanding presence as a B-grade beast, they kept their distance, only watching as the wolf king and Xiao Feng dashed past.
When a streak of rosy dawn appeared in the eastern sky, Xiao Feng and Baibai arrived before a towering mountain. As the sun rose, the mountain gradually revealed itself — not a solitary peak, but part of an immense mountain range.
This vast mountain range stretched boundlessly.
Xiao Feng activated the map function on his watch and discovered the mountain bore a familiar name:
The Alps.
Black Dragon's trail led deep into the mountain range.
Xiao Feng cautiously contacted Lin.
Lin, still groggy from sleep, rubbed his eyes upon receiving Xiao Feng's call and asked, "What's the matter?"
Xiao Feng's image flickered on the screen — his face smeared with blood, his combat uniform tattered as if swept by a machine gun burst. Frowning, he said, "Get up and help me research something."
"Boss Xiao Feng, what time is it? Where have you been?" Lin asked, seeing the distant wasteland behind Xiao Feng, bathed in sunlight, while Lin remained shrouded in darkness.
Xiao Feng furrowed his brow. "I have urgent business. I'm not joking. You need to find out immediately — where exactly is the headquarters of the Evil Dragon Cult?"