A Different Kind of Fireworks

Edward soared into the sky, flying over the northern mountains of White Eagle City and heading straight north.

His blue formal attire had turned white, a clear cosplay of the Silver-Winged Magician. However, the flight wings behind him weren't a glider's delta wing, but a cosplay of another famous animated character from his past life—Buzz Lightyear!

This flamboyant appearance wasn't his own choice. To achieve rapid costume changes, he had combined the Flying Backpack and the color-changing array for his clothes. This allowed for a one-button equipment effect.

After returning to the New Continent, he had relaxed and hadn't modified it further. Fortunately, he had a habit of always carrying his life-saving equipment, otherwise escaping today would have been difficult.

The wind whistled past his ears as he carefully controlled the flight wings. Using his monocular to scout the terrain below, he had already crossed the wide Har River and was heading towards a stretch of tidal flats and wetlands to the north.

The cold northern climate meant the area was still frozen ground. It was a decent battlefield, but too close to White Eagle City.

To the north lay a continuous forest, a mix of deciduous trees and evergreen pines, with patches of snow still clinging to the shaded canopies.

Given the "Bug's" characteristics, fighting in a forest wouldn't be a good choice. Moreover, outside the city on the New Continent, magical beasts ran rampant, and he didn't know if any would interfere.

So he veered northeast, flying along the frozen banks of the Har River for a short distance before spotting a dark mass of islands at the horizon where the water met the sky.

It was the Delta at the mouth of the Har River, long and narrow, quite large, about one to two kilometers long, covered in dry, low shrubs and weeds with no significant elevation. From here, he could still faintly see the lighthouse of White Eagle City.

Under Edward's control, the overheating Flying Backpack behind him powered down, switching to a different propulsion method. A strong wind surged from the nozzle, and the noise decreased significantly. He glided towards the islands...

When Edward left the fountain square, due to the subtle field effect of Mr. "Bug," no one noticed.

Only when Edward flew into the air did a few people realize. However, due to the earlier fireworks display, they assumed it was just another failed firework.

The ground, leveled by Edward, remained silent. After a good three minutes, the ground slightly bulged, then broke open. Mr. "Bug" emerged from underground without a sound.

Mr. "Bug" had undergone a drastic transformation, retaining only a humanoid form. His lower limbs had become thick, backward-bending shapes, and his forearms had turned into mantis-like forelimbs. His Abdomen had grown an extra pair of limbs with sharp barbs. A pair of cockroach-like Elytra had also sprouted from his back.

His face was covered in long black hairs, and his eyes had become a pair of huge compound eyes. His mouth sported a pair of long, pincer-like mouthparts. If anyone saw him, they would surely wet themselves.

Unfortunately, his strange field drove ordinary people far away, so no one noticed him.

He rotated his head and neck mechanically, muttering softly:

"You think you can escape like you did in Ailande? I'm not like those two idiots who let you go."

With that, the Elytra on his back opened, revealing a pair of transparent wings. Following the bright Heat Trace in the sky visible to his compound eyes, he buzzed away.

The howling north wind on the Har River made Mr. "Bug" feel uncomfortable. He felt that the Heat Trace in the sky would soon dissipate with the wind.

His delicate wings wouldn't be able to keep up with the heat trace's dissipation speed. Therefore, he glowed red and shot forward like lightning.

Arriving above the Har River Delta, the heat trace had vanished. The red glow on his body disappeared, and his wings buzzed as he hovered above the Delta.

"Escaped here? Mr. Smith, you've chosen a fine graveyard!"

Mr. "Bug" slowly descended, as flying wasn't his forte. He scanned his surroundings with his large compound eyes. Besides the whistling wind and the rustling of dry grass and branches, there was nothing.

"Stop hiding, Mr. Smith, I see you!" he shouted, his voice sounding like the rasping cries of a Tuberculosis Patient.

Just then, he felt a sharp pain in his arm, and a mist of blood flew up. His right arm was severed at the shoulder. Only then did a deafening roar reach his ears.

Without bothering to pick up his severed arm, he dashed towards the direction of the sound, glowing red. He chased all the way to the water's edge but found nothing.

"That guy is in the water." He had figured it out. Although his strength wouldn't be harmed by entering the water, as a "Bug," the bone-chilling river water was something he instinctively resisted.

"Then let's see who has more patience! I want to see how long a beginner-level professional can stay in that icy water."

As a natural predator, Mr. "Bug" lowered his body, his five limbs touching the ground, and quickly retreated to his severed arm. He gently picked up the arm from the ground, glowing red all over, and reattached it.

He felt that the sneak attack he had just received was merely a fluke. If they had met head-on, he was confident he could have dodged it the moment the sneak attack came.

Edward, hiding in the water, was filled with regret. He had intended to shoot at the opponent's chest using his monocular in conjunction with the ""Barrett"" sniper rifle in his hand.

His practiced aim and the specially loaded bullet had given him confidence that he could hit the opponent's Torso with one shot, and the powerful force might have torn the Torso apart.

However, a sudden change in wind direction had only managed to break one of the opponent's arms.

"As expected, I can't take shortcuts. I can't underestimate anyone at the peak of Sky Knight."

Thinking this, he shook his head in the water. If the opponent's head and limbs had been separated even for a moment, even with their incredible recovery ability, he would have had a chance to finish off that talking bug.

Thinking this, Edward grumbled inwardly. This disgusting bug was uglier than its Cell before absorbing No. 18 and No. 19!

The opponent was now prone on the ground, losing his shooting angle. Fortunately, he had a backup plan and was just waiting for the bug to lose its patience and take the bait.

This was a test of patience. Before the opponent arrived, he had already stowed away his conspicuous white formal attire and hat, changing into his self-made Amphibious Combat Suit. The Flying Backpack was still strapped to his back.

The Combat Suit was matte gray, form-fitting, with only black Armor Plates covering the chest and back. The helmet was similar to the one in the game "Crysis," and although it lacked electronic equipment like a targeting rangefinder, it provided underwater breathing Oxygen.

The Magic Crystal embedded on it could also provide electrical energy for his waterproof Combat Suit, keeping it warm. Staying underwater for extended periods was not a problem.

He submerged even deeper, preparing to execute his backup plan.

Mr. "Bug," lying on the ground, felt a slight vibration from beneath the earth. His Appendage, covered in needle-like hairs, acted as 'ears.'

He thought to himself, "Trying that trick again? It won't work on me!" Guessing that Edward was now beneath him, he suddenly pushed off the ground and leaped into the air. The Scythe on his forearm slashed down like a streak of light.

He carved a deep Gorge into the ground, dozens of meters long and four to five meters deep. This was the power of a Fourth Rank professional.

Edward only wanted to 'ambush' his opponent from afar and not engage in close combat, which was why. The opponent's reaction speed, attack speed, and lethality were beyond Edward's ability to match. He could only maintain distance and rely on his equipment.

What Mr. Bug didn't expect was that instead of Edward's figure, a flash of light appeared in the Gorge that had been cut open. A huge explosion and shockwave sent him flying. Fire and a blast wave surged into the sky, forming a tall Mushroom Cloud above the island.

Edward had invested heavily this time, installing a cubic meter, approximately 1.6 tons, of TNT. The explosive power was equivalent to a full-strength attack from a Mage. If Mr. "Bug" hadn't jumped up so early, he would have likely been blown into Minced Meat by now.

Mr. "Bug's" outer Shell shattered and flew everywhere. His short Abdomen Appendage and one leg were blown off, tumbling towards the sea.

Before he could fall into the water, Edward shot vertically out of it. The Flying Backpack on his back roared to life again, lifting Edward into the air.

Edward hadn't brought many weapons in his Spatial Ring for this banquet. He had to deal with the monster before him quickly to prevent future trouble.

He wore two bracelet-like metal boxes on his Combat Suit wrists. The sides of the boxes were inlaid with Magic Gems he'd obtained from two Vampires last time.

A small window opened on the back of each box, seemingly holding Metal Playing Cards. As tiny Gears inside turned, the "poker cards" flipped.

Finally, the cards on both hands stopped on the same Texture.

Edward pointed his hands at Mr. Bug, and dozens of formal-level spells—Wind Blade Technique—interwove and slashed at his broken body.

Alchemists couldn't directly cast formal-level spells. However, they could use Scrolls or Magic Arrays of the same level.

These cards were First-Level Spells and Magic Arrays he'd created after his promotion. The boxes were rapid-casting devices Edward invented, inspired by novels and anime from his past life.

The Wind Blades continuously struck Mr. Bug's body. Without the protection of his Shell and already heavily wounded, the hits made squelching sounds, slashing out bloody mist.

Edward kept casting Wind Blades with both hands, exceeding the spellcasting limit of a novice Mage. He gradually batted Mr. Bug back to the shore of Delta, like playing ping pong.

At this point, Mr. Bug had been cut into a bloody Meatball by the Wind Blades, crashing heavily onto the ground.

Edward didn't pause. The cards on his wrists flipped, and two Fire Dragons spewed forth, continuously burning the "Meatball".

Just as he felt victory was within reach, he suddenly felt a strange palpitation. He stopped the Fire Dragons and quickly maneuvered the Flying Backpack to dodge far away...