Within Xiaofeng's sight lurked a colossal grade-B beast—a massive lizard armored with thick, impenetrable scales. This creature, however, ambled upright on two hind legs, resembling a towering Tyrannosaurus rex, nearly dozens of meters tall.
Pandora furrowed her brow. "Such reptiles are native to deserts or steppes. How could one possibly appear in the perpetually frigid Alps?"
"Indeed," muttered Tugou. "It defies all reason. Could it be that someone brought this lizard here?"
Xiaofeng's brows knitted sharply. "That's a distinct possibility. But who would bring such a creature to this place?"
"Who else but the scoundrels of the Evil Dragon Sect?" Xiaofeng replied grimly.
"But wasn't the Evil Dragon Sect already scattered?" Tugou asked uncertainly.
"Broken, yes, but far from eradicated," Pandora interjected as she prepared to unleash firepower. "Take down this grade-B beast…"
Qin Tian nodded. Pandora pressed the crimson trigger, and simultaneously three black beams of magical energy burst forth from the cannons, striking the tyrannosaur's massive skull.
Boom! The immense force slammed into the creature's head, sending it tumbling forward in a thunderous collapse.
Xiaofeng sneered dismissively. "A grade-B beast is no match for the might of grade-A magic beams—nothing but a mere annoyance."
"Not so fast," Pandora countered. She adjusted the jet's angle, offering Xiaofeng a clearer view. The beast staggered back to its feet, its head encased in an exceptionally thick, rock-like layer of scales. The earlier beams seemed only to have cracked its armor rather than inflicted real damage, at best leaving it momentarily dazed.
Yet the beast's fall granted a fleeting reprieve to Rondo and his fleeing comrades.
Cradling a light machine gun, Rondo glanced back, noticing the beast did not pursue. Panting, he stopped and looked toward the towering lizard, which now craned its neck skyward. Rondo's gaze followed upward, where two unfamiliar fighter jets suddenly appeared. Their strange design astonished not only him but all the soldiers around.
One of the jets began incessantly firing black beams at the beast's head, chipping away the rock-like scales.
"Captain, what kind of aircraft is that? Such firepower!" a soldier exclaimed.
Rondo shook his head. "I don't know…" Then, catching sight of the emblem on the trident jet's tail, he laughed in recognition. "Ah, it's the X Legion's craft. Seems they're here to rescue us!"
"Why would the X Legion come to our aid?" a soldier asked, curious.
"Haha, that's something you don't need to know. We're just spectators this time. And the grade-B magic crystals—do you know how much they fetch now?" Rondo's tone brimmed with excitement, fear from their earlier frantic escape all but vanished.
The jets continued their relentless assault on the great lizard, which dodged the magical beams with a swaying head before finally turning to flee.
Xiaofeng chuckled inside the cockpit. "Trying to run? Have the giant block its path—today, this beast falls here!"
Pandora smiled, speaking into her headset, "Giant, don't let it escape…"
"My plane isn't equipped with magic cannons—can't deal much damage," the Giant grumbled.
"Get your craft retrofitted with them when you return. For now, just block its way!" Pandora commanded, then resumed firing at the beast.
The creature, startled and unprepared for such an ambush deep in the mountains, realized resistance was futile. Possessing some cunning as a grade-B beast, it chose to flee wildly while the Black Dagger and Trident jets pursued unrelentingly. Despite its tough, thick armor, the ceaseless bombardment wore it down until it finally collapsed to the earth.
Xiaofeng turned to Pandora. "Land the plane—I'll go with Qin Tian to hunt down the remaining Evil Dragon Sect remnants."
"You two alone?" Pandora asked, concern flickering in her eyes.
Xiaofeng nodded. "You, Giant, and Tugou keep watch over the jets and Zeus. Qin Tian and I will find them."
"Let me come with you!" Pandora insisted.
"No need. I have dark powers now, bolstered by my new electric abilities. Don't worry about me."
Resigned, Pandora ordered the landing. Xiaofeng and Qin Tian, clad in hunting gear, set off with a small pack slung over Qin Tian's shoulder.
Meanwhile, Rondo approached Tugou. "What are you doing here?"
Tugou grinned. "We came looking for you at your camp. You weren't there. Luckily, we caught your distress signal just as we were leaving, so we rushed over in time."
"Good thing you did. Had you been a moment later, that lizard might have devoured us!" Rondo said. "By the way, who were the two that left just now?"
"One's Xiaofeng, the other Qin Tian. Xiaofeng suspects there are still Evil Dragon Sect cultists around, so the two went to hunt them. We're staying put here."
"Xiaofeng? The one my sister talks about day and night?"
"Haha, perhaps," Tugou chuckled.
"I didn't even get a glimpse—who exactly is this Xiaofeng my sister can't stop thinking about?"