Chapter 23: Shock
Outside the west gate of the human camp, several large metal containers were piled on the open ground, each covered with waterproof tarpaulin, and each about the size of a shipping container.
Reva stood nearby with her arms crossed, a half-smoked, unlit cigarette dangling from her lips, brow furrowed in frustration.
Damn monster. It hadn’t even told her how long she’d need to wait before abruptly ending the call. Was she supposed to just stand here and wait?
A handful of Gray Fox Gang members stood behind her, equally perplexed.
One of them couldn’t help but mutter, “Deputy boss, you really think those things can move these themselves? That’s several tons…”
Another chimed in, “We don’t have much choice. All the trucks are rented out. Even if we wanted to find a way to transport them, we couldn’t. Whether they can carry them or not is their problem.”
Before Reva could reply, a deep, oppressive humming rolled across the sky, reminiscent of distant thunder.
Suddenly, a massive white figure pierced the low-hanging clouds, diving toward the camp with a shrieking roar that tore through the air!
“Enemy attack?!”
The Gray Fox Gang erupted in chaos. Energy weapons were hastily loaded, and the camp’s sirens wailed, slicing through the air with a piercing screech. Within the tent district, civilians scattered in terror, scrambling for cover.
Reva’s gaze locked onto the enormous creature drawing ever closer.
Her heart pounded wildly in her chest—what was that thing?
It looked just like the legendary pterosaurs from prehistory!
Was this monster targeting the human camp? How could they possibly defend against such a thing?
Its wingspan blotted out the sky, and every beat of its wings sent gusts of wind strong enough to nearly knock people off their feet.
“Wait! Nobody move!”
The next moment, Reva barked out a sharp order.
She had seen the figure atop the white-scaled beast’s broad back.
Cold and gleaming with metallic luster—it was the Rust Tide King.
Like a metal sculpture pinned to the dragon’s back, it descended with elegance and nobility, spear in hand, like a god riding its steed. Its red and white electronic eyes calmly surveyed the chaotic human camp below, glowing dimly in the twilight.
“…No way…”
Though the immediate danger had passed, Reva was still utterly stunned.
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She stared at the Rust Tide King atop the dragon, her mind reeling. This mutated monster, so reminiscent of a pterosaur, was the Rust Tide King’s mount?
Just the creature’s presence suggested a C+ rating at least—and it was a species never before seen or recorded in the Light Ruins.
And the Rust Tide King? Intelligence reports claimed it was C+ as well.
No!
Anyone who could tame and ride such a sovereign of the skies couldn’t possibly be merely C+.
Monsters were fiercely aggressive by nature; unless truly subjugated, they would never accept being another’s mount.
Only now did she realize that all previous human assessments of the Rust Tide King’s power had been overturned in an instant. A chill crept up her spine.
Just how terrifying were the forces behind this monster? To send such a giant beast as a mere pack animal—just to…transport cargo?
At least the Gray Fox Gang needn’t worry whether their partner could carry off the goods. With such a flying titan, what freight couldn’t be moved?
Reva’s mind was awash with turbulent waves, but Ye Mi was oblivious.
In truth, the misunderstanding was real. The Gray Fox Gang couldn’t have guessed the reason behind the mysterious monster faction’s choice: it was simply a matter of manpower shortage, and so the Storm Dragon was dispatched for menial hauling.
As for notions of taming a mount, it was merely a matter of convenience—since everything was handled by the same person, the distinction hardly mattered.
Ye Mi had no intention of explaining this to the Gray Fox Gang; the more awe they felt toward her monsters, the smoother their cooperation would be.
The Storm Dragon hovered abruptly, tens of meters above the ground, its broad leathery wings beating fiercely to maintain balance, stirring up whirlwinds that sent dust and stones flying in all directions.
Guards standing too close staggered backward, nearly knocked off their feet.
The beast let out a shrill cry, announcing its arrival. Its golden slit-pupils swept over the humans below, imparting a suffocating sense of innate domination.
As the camp fell into a fearful silence, the Rust Tide King moved.
Like a feather devoid of weight, it leapt nimbly from the dragon’s back, landing with a soft sound. Ignoring the shocked faces brandishing guns, it walked straight toward Reva.
“You…you…that thing?” Reva finally found her voice, laced with a subtle dryness and disbelief.
She pointed toward the Storm Dragon, its wings folded, looming like a small white mountain. Even standing still, it nearly matched the height of a building.
Ye Mi, unaware of Reva’s thoughts, blinked in confusion for a moment, then replied, “What about it?”
---
Then Ye Mi realized, “Oh, you haven’t seen it before, right? Let me introduce it—it’s called Storm Dragon.”
Reva quickly regained her composure, nodding briskly. “Everything you asked for is here. The inventory is on the containers.”
Ye Mi gave a slight nod and gestured at the crates.
Storm Dragon immediately understood. Its massive, scale-armored claw reached down with precision, effortlessly seizing the heavy metal containers as if they were mere toys, handling them with the ease of a child stacking blocks.
The entire process was silent and efficient, radiating an inhuman strength.
To Reva, it seemed as though Storm Dragon was executing the Rust Tide King’s commands with absolute obedience.
She couldn’t begin to fathom that their seamless coordination was due to sharing a single mind.
“All right, take this—it’s a gift for our partnership and a token of thanks.”
The Rust Tide King’s deep, metallic voice broke the strange silence.
It stepped up to Reva, opening its metal palm to reveal three energy crystals emitting a pure red glow.
Within each crystal, liquid light seemed to flow, their purity far surpassing anything in the Gray Fox Gang’s warehouses.
Reva’s pupils contracted as she recognized them instantly: the highest-grade crystals stolen from the Defense Bureau’s supply station.
She accepted them, and though the gift was precious, it was also fair—the technology provided by the Gray Fox Gang was no small investment. Thus, the two factions had, through this exchange, achieved a peculiar balance.
“By the way, any new developments from the Defense Bureau?” Reva carefully stored the crystals, her tone grave; this was the Gray Fox Gang’s greatest concern.
“Not yet.” Ye Mi remained succinct. “If there is news, I’ll send it to you.”
She said no more, turning away. Storm Dragon, apparently receiving a command, adjusted its grip on the cargo, and the Rust Tide King leapt lightly onto its back.
The giant beast soared into the sky, swiftly departing.