Startling Thunder: Flash

In the train carriage, passengers cried out in alarm as they saw the man-faced strange bird crash into an assault pod.

"Heavens, that thing actually targeted an assault pod."

"No, no, did you notice? It first used fire to distract the other three mechas, and only then did it crash into the assault pod. It was to prevent 'Blazing Flame' and the others from intervening."

"Is this really a Giant Beast? It's too smart!"

People chattered amongst themselves.

Luo Yan recalled that back in the Forbidden Zone, Wei Fenghua had mentioned that mid-tier Giant Beasts already possessed intelligence.

In that case, it wasn't surprising that high-tier Giant Beasts would understand tactics.

If high-tier Giant Beasts were like this.

He couldn't imagine how terrifying those even more advanced ones, like the Overlord Level beast in the Forbidden Zone, would be.

At this moment, the people's exclamations rang out again.

It turned out the strange bird was frantically tearing at the pod door. Before the door could fully open, it thrust one of its wings into the gap.

Then, its wing began to vibrate at high frequency.

Luo Yan suddenly remembered the powder that had fallen from its wings earlier, and the high temperatures it ignited.

As expected.

After the strange bird shook itself.

A flash of fire erupted from the assault pod, followed by Blazing Flames spewing out from the pod's seams.

The strange bird immediately flapped its wings and ascended.

The next second, the assault pod violently expanded, its metal deforming.

BOOM!

With a deafening roar, the assault pod exploded, engulfed in flames. A mecha staggered out from the inferno.

Its outer armor was visibly melted and deformed, sparks flying from its circuits. Accompanied by chain reactions of secondary explosions, fragments of the mecha were constantly ejected.

The mecha finally knelt, immobile, leaving only a blurry silhouette amidst the raging Blazing Flames for the audience.

Inside the underground city train carriage.

People held their breath.

Several young girls covered their mouths, tears welling up in their eyes.

The scene was too brutal.

The pilot inside the mecha hadn't even had a chance to escape.

They were burned alive in the control room.

Zeng Shan murmured as he watched the screen, "Perhaps, when we become Mech Pilots, we'll meet the same fate one day."

Luo Yan remained silent.

Only after the assault pod exploded did the doors of the other two assault pods open, and the mechas within stepped out.

One of the mechas was agile in design, predominantly deep blue with sharp red accents.

It was Di Zheng's ride: Blue Edge!

Zeng Shan also recognized it, "Commander Di is personally here?"

As Blue Edge emerged, it immediately raised a sniper rifle almost as tall as the mecha itself.

The rifle had a black and blue finish, its barrel measuring 13 meters long, with an energy conduit running along each side.

At this moment, the energy conduits lit up rapidly, filling with energy, causing a deep blue pattern to illuminate the rifle's barrel.

BANG BANG BANG!

The rifle fired three shots in quick succession.

High in the sky.

The strange bird had no time to react. Its left wing was hit, exploding and sending feathers flying.

It lost balance and plummeted downwards.

Inside the carriage.

Zeng Shan excitedly pointed at the rifle Di Zheng was using on the screen and said to Luo Yan.

"That's 'Thunder'!"

"It's an electromagnetic sniper rifle specifically for Giant Beasts. It can use various Essence Energy-driven special rounds like armor-piercing, high-explosive, and incendiary rounds."

"This is also a 'Heavy Grade Weapon'!"

Luo Yan nodded slightly, his attention more focused on Di Zheng's next move.

On the screen, as the strange bird lost balance and fell towards the ground.

Di Zheng had already discarded the sniper rifle. Blue Edge lowered its center of gravity, its upper body leaning forward to the extreme, its right hand gripping the hilt of a longsword held at its left hip.

Boom!

The mecha suddenly erupted in a burst of bright yellow light, Essence Energy surging and overflowing.

Luo Yan felt as if he could sense that impact force even through the screen.

"Opening the Essence Gate..."

Luo Yan said softly, clearly Di Zheng had already used the 'Soul Gate Opening' Secret Technique.

Using a Secret Technique to enhance burst power and attack power.

At the same time.

A storm swirled around Blue Edge, a tornado rising majestically with immense power.

Zeng Shan shouted, "It's 'Wind Walk'!"

"Commander Di's Divine Treasure!"

Through his studies during this period, Luo Yan already knew that Di Zheng's 'Wind Walk' could increase speed and enhance personal agility.

The faster the speed, the higher the striking power.

Di Zheng's 'Wind Walk' could allow the mecha to move at supersonic speeds, so one could imagine how terrifying the attack power would be when swinging a sword at such speed.

Not to mention, he had also used a Secret Technique!

Divine Treasure plus Secret Technique.

The moment Di Zheng made his move, he went all out!

On the screen, the strange bird was about to crash to the ground.

At the same time.

Blue Edge finally drew the long sword from its waist.

As the sword was unsheathed, it seemed as if electric snakes were leaping.

All the mecha's engines roared, its feet stomped on the ground, and Blue Edge moved!

Boom!

With a crisp popping sound, a visible shockwave exploded outwards.

Blue Edge burst forth from the center of the shockwave.

Its speed was so fast that the mecha's movements were completely indiscernible.

On the screen, Luo Yan only saw Blue Edge's figure blur.

And then it disappeared from the screen.

In the picture.

Only a blue trajectory, like lightning, remained.

It split the screen's view in two.

The screen's camera quickly shifted, focusing on the strange bird.

In that direction.

The lightning streak crossed the strange bird.

The strange bird's body was immediately sent flying uncontrollably, countless feathers and blood scattering everywhere.

When it managed to stabilize itself in mid-air, a massive gash was seen across its abdomen.

The gash was so large and deep, it almost split the strange bird's body in two.

At this moment, blood and internal organs were gushing out of the gash.

The strange bird struggled to flap its wings, trying to escape, but after a few flaps, its body uncontrollably plummeted towards the ground.

It landed in the distant forest, crushing tree after tree.

Only then did people see Blue Edge sheathe its sword and turn.

Bathed in sunlight, the mecha gleamed, like a god descending from the heavens.

"Startling Thunder: Flash!"

Zeng Shan pointed at the screen and shouted, "Did you see that?"

"Old Luo, that's Commander Di's ultimate move!"

"So damn cool!"

Although Luo Yan didn't respond, his pupils slightly widened, and his chest heaved powerfully.

He knew that 'Startling Thunder: Flash' was a derivative technique of the combat skill 'Startling Thunder'.

But he hadn't expected.

It would be so dazzling. So powerful.

With one strike, an upper-level Giant Beast was slain!

Looking at Di Zheng's Mecha on the screen, a strong thought surged in Luo Yan's heart.

He also wanted to learn more advanced derivative combat skills.

He also wanted to be like Di Zheng and slay Giant Beasts on the battlefield!

With a soft snap, the fluorescent lights in the carriage flickered on, power restored.

A broadcast also sounded from the screen: "The threat has been neutralized. The Jambu Realm Space is closing, and power to the underground city has been restored. We apologize for any inconvenience caused."

"The light rail train will now resume normal operation. We wish you all a pleasant Sunday."

As the broadcast concluded, the light rail train slowly began to move.

Outside the train windows, lights began to flicker back on in the buildings of the underground city, quickly restoring its original appearance.

Looking at the holographic projection on the underground city's dome simulating the light of dusk, bathing the city in peace.

If he hadn't watched the entire battle unfold on screen just now, who would have imagined.

That a brutal and perilous battle had just taken place on the surface.

Events like this.

As long as the Jambu Realm Space remained open, they could happen at any time.

And once Giant Beasts breached the underground, the current prosperity of the underground city would be extinguished like a candle flame, blown out with a single breath.

PS: Five updates today as well. Please vote for me, give this little newcomer some motivation!