"Boom, boom, boom, boom!" The moment Golden finished speaking, chaos erupted across the battlefield. Explosions rang out from every direction as flashes of fire tore through the once-peaceful ground. Smoke and dust filled the air, and many Predator Mercenary Group members who hadn't managed to take cover were blasted away.
The one behind it all was Zhou Zilong. He was piloting a specially modified fighter jet, hovering in midair, his eyes gleaming with calm. Just moments ago, he had pressed a button inside the cockpit marked with a shooting-star symbol. In an instant, the spherical object he had launched earlier burst apart in the sky into countless tiny particles, raining down like fire.
"This is the gift I prepared for you," Zhou Zilong murmured.
The sudden attack sent the Predator Mercenary Group into a panic. Its members scattered in search of shelter, but the explosions followed them like shadows, injuring and even killing them one after another.
Golden, an instructor with the Predator Mercenary Group, stood on high ground and stared down at the chaos, his brow furrowed. He shouted into his communicator, "Jerry, what in the world is going on? Why aren't our systems detecting any energy fluctuations from their attack?"
Jerry's somewhat panicked voice came through the communicator. "Instructor Golden, I'm really sorry. I think their technology is far more advanced than ours, which is why our detection equipment hasn't reacted at all!"
Golden drew a deep breath, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes. "Is that so? Then we'll have to make sure we capture this guy and study him thoroughly!"
With that, Golden quickly ordered his mercenaries to stabilize the situation and launch a counterattack against Zhou Zilong. Gunfire and explosions rang out one after another, and the entire battlefield reached a fever pitch.
Zhou Zilong felt the chaos around him from inside the fighter jet, but he remained completely unfazed. He maneuvered through the sky with ease, dodging attacks from the ground. He knew this battle was only one part of his plan; he still had more important things to do.
"Although the battles in Dragon Ball have moved beyond firearms, I might as well have one more gunfight before we start blasting each other with ki," Zhou Zilong muttered.
As he neared his target, Zhou Zilong abruptly pulled up. The plane traced an elegant arc through the sky before diving back down. Just before it was about to hit the ground, he pressed a button inside the cockpit. A powerful surge of energy burst from the plane, instantly engulfing the mercenary squad below in a sea of flames.
"This is only the beginning," Zhou Zilong said calmly. He circled once in the sky, then charged toward another target.
"Rat-a-tat-tat!" The machine guns on both sides of the fighter jet sprayed bullets relentlessly, riddling several Predator Mercenary Group buildings with holes.
But the Predator Mercenary Group quickly organized a defense and deployed more forces, preparing to counterattack Zhou Zilong.
"Get the rocket launchers and shoot that plane down!" Golden, commander of the Predator Mercenary Group, roared from the command room, his face twisted with anger and frustration. He couldn't tolerate anyone daring to challenge his authority.
At Golden's command, rocket after rocket streaked up from the ground toward Zhou Zilong's fighter jet. But Zhou Zilong didn't panic. He calmly controlled the jet, skillfully dodging every rocket.
"Looks like the rockets can't threaten him," Golden said, frowning as he considered his next move. He knew this opponent was stronger than any he had faced before, with formidable power and intelligence. If he wanted to defeat him, he would have to use more effective means.
Golden ordered several jets to be dispatched to surround Zhou Zilong's fighter. Fast and heavily armed, they were among the Predator Mercenary Group's elite forces. They quickly encircled his plane and launched a fierce attack.
But Zhou Zilong didn't back down. He took a deep breath and gathered his ki, forming a powerful Aura Shield. The shield enveloped his fighter jet, and no matter how fierce the attacks from outside, they couldn't harm him in the slightest.
"Ha!" Zhou Zilong shouted, and his Aura Shield grew even stronger. The bullets and rockets flying toward him bounced off the shield and fell away, unable to hurt him.
"How is this possible? What kind of technology could create something like this? It's incredible!" Golden stared at the scene in astonishment, unable to believe his eyes. The person inside that fighter jet possessed such immense power. He realized the Predator Mercenary Group might have finally met a worthy opponent.
"Looks like this Aura Shield I came up with is pretty useful!" Zhou Zilong said with a pleased smile.
Zhou Zilong had invented the Aura Shield as a defensive technique during his time at Capsule Corporation. By releasing energy from within himself, he created an invisible protective aura to deflect attacks from all around him. The system, Xiao Ling, had evaluated it back when it was still asleep: the shield could block energy attacks with a battle power up to five times his own. It was a pretty good defensive technique.
"Hey, you in the plane! Have the guts to come down and face us?" Golden shouted into a loudspeaker, his voice echoing through the air.
Zhou Zilong smiled faintly and replied, "I've had my fill of fighting with guns. It's time to get down there and wipe out this group!"
"Kid, you've got guts, I'll give you that. You actually dared to come down." After Zhou Zilong climbed out of the fighter jet, Golden spoke in a menacing tone, his eyes flashing with malice.
Zhou Zilong wore a black, tight-fitting suit. He was powerfully built, and his gaze was steady. Looking up at Golden, he curled his lips into a confident smile. "I'm here to wipe you out. Why wouldn't I dare? I forgot to tell you—I was just warming up earlier!"
Golden looked surprised for a moment, but the expression quickly gave way to malice. "Hmph, you sure talk big. We'll see if you actually have what it takes!" He waved his hand, signaling his men to attack.
A crowd of ferocious-looking men surged in from all directions, weapons in hand, charging toward Zhou Zilong. But Zhou Zilong didn't flinch. He clenched his fists and took up a fighting stance.
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