Xiao Feng nodded solemnly. "This herd of wild bulls numbers in the hundreds, each likely surpassing the threshold of F-grade beasts. It would not be surprising if some among them even rank as E-grade. Should they draw near to Godo City, our peril would be inevitable. If incendiary shells prove effective, then so be it—deploy them at once!"
Rice's voice crackled over the communicator. "All artillery units, prepare to switch to incendiary rounds!"
A chorus of affirmative responses echoed from the soldiers.
One after another, a dozen cannons were reloaded.
A fresh volley thundered forth.
The shells descended upon the stampeding herd, exploding into towering infernos. The flames roared to life, merging into a vast sea of fire that illuminated the barren wasteland like a fiery dawn.
Yet, despite the conflagration, the demonic bulls charged through the blaze, their muscular forms ablaze with licking flames. Some, unable to withstand the searing heat, scattered wildly in agony. This chaos disrupted their relentless momentum; many bulls stumbled over their fallen comrades, plunging the entire herd into disarray.
"Continue with the incendiaries! Fire again!" Rice commanded sharply.
The artillery responded with another synchronized salvo, expanding the fiery perimeter. The raging inferno burned fiercely several kilometers away.
Through his telescope, Xiao Feng observed the fleeing herd abruptly veer eastward toward Godo City. A pang of alarm tightened his chest. "This is bad—they've changed course!"
Rice barked orders into his communicator, "Artillery units, reposition to the east side!"
"It's too late!" Xiao Feng's voice was grim.
Rice furrowed his brow. "Then what do you propose?"
Xiao Feng's tone grew icy. "Then the burden falls upon Rush and me."
Without hesitation, Xiao Feng vaulted down from the lookout tower, a ten-meter drop that meant little to him.
Landing firmly, he addressed Rush. "Rush, the herd is redirecting eastward. We must intercept."
Rush nodded in grim agreement. "Let's move."
Turning to Lin, Xiao Feng demanded, "Give me a car key—I need to reach the eastern gate swiftly."
Lin hesitated briefly. "I'll drive. I'm faster behind the wheel."
"Fine," Xiao Feng conceded, urgency sharpening his words. "We don't have time to waste."
Lin hurried to a sleek, modified sports car. "No time for talk—get in!"
With the engine roaring to life, the car's front tires screeched, releasing a plume of black smoke as it surged forward. Lin skillfully maneuvered through the deserted city streets, whipping the car into a sharp drift onto a north-south avenue before flooring the accelerator.
Fortunately, the streets were nearly deserted—most residents had retreated indoors after hearing the distant cannon fire.
Lin slammed the pedal to the floor, the speedometer rapidly climbing toward 200 km/h. Upon reaching a main thoroughfare, he deftly executed another graceful drift, whipping the car onto an east-west artery that led directly to Godo City's eastern gate.
After a burst of acceleration, they arrived at the gate, where sentries swiftly opened the massive barriers at Lin's approach.
Without hesitation, Lin's car shot through the opening, maintaining a blistering pace of 160 km/h heading due east. Minutes later, he slammed on the brakes, halting on a dilapidated road.
"Here will do," Lin declared with grim resolve.
Xiao Feng glanced sideways, still braced in the passenger seat, feet planted against the dashboard, hands gripping the door handle tightly.
Behind them, Rush lay crouched beneath the seat, tense and alert.
Xiao Feng muttered in frustration, "Damn, you drive like a stunt pilot. Can you slow down even a bit?"
Lin scratched his head sheepishly. "If the road were better, this car could hit 300 without breaking a sweat."
"Christ..." Xiao Feng said nothing more, climbing out.
Stepping onto the ground, he nearly retched from the savage drifts. Even he was shaken.
Rush emerged from the backseat, expression stern, drawing deep breaths.
Though Lin's wild driving left them disheveled, it had bought precious time. They already felt the earth trembling—those massive beasts, each weighing several tons, were drawing ever closer.
Xiao Feng, having just come from Ivy's room unarmed, felt a pang of vulnerability.
"Rush, are you confident?"
Chuckling, Rush replied, "No major threat, as long as they aren't all E-grade."
Lin, stretching and cracking his bones nearby, prepared himself mentally—his ice-elemental abilities ready to unleash.
At last, the monstrous herd thundered into view, the ground shuddering beneath their weight as if shaken by an earthquake.
Rush focused intently, conjuring shimmering psychic spikes that darted forward ceaselessly.
The formidable power of an eighth-tier psychic manifested fully, each lance of mental energy aimed precisely at the beasts' foreheads.
These massive bulls, towering over two meters with tough armored plates crowning their skulls, found their defenses crumbling under Rush's relentless assault—their shells breaking apart like fragile cheese.
The vanguard toppled in waves; behind them, chaos spread as panicked bulls collapsed and bellowed wildly.
Amid the chaos, Lin stared in astonishment, then saw a slender figure dart forward—Xiao Feng himself.
With swift grace, Xiao Feng leapt onto a struggling fallen bull. The creature froze in bewilderment at the audacity of this lone human.
Then, Xiao Feng pressed both hands firmly against the beast's brow, sending a surge of potent electricity coursing through it.
Scattered across the ground lay numerous stunned bulls, convulsing under the electrical assault—soon, a vast swath lay unconscious, felled by Xiao Feng's shocking power.