We Agreed on Delta Force, So How Did It Turn into Arknights? Chapter 42

In the blazing flames, Zaro's body resembled a demon crawling out of hell's furnace. Its ash-black fur was plated with flowing gold and crimson by the firelight, while scorching air distorted the space around it. Yet those scarlet wolf eyes pierced through the heat haze, locking onto Han Fei like two blood moons.

The Lord of Wolves' voice burst from between its fangs, carrying sparks with it. Each step branded a burning paw print into the scorched earth:

"If this is all you've got, then you're not qualified to protect her."

The moment its words fell, Zaro sprang again. Its massive body became a bolt of lightning tearing through the night beneath the moonlight. The instant its claws shattered the ground, a ring of airwaves erupted outward. It charged like a heavy tank at full speed, grass and dirt exploding in fan-shaped sprays behind it, while its scarlet eyes dragged two bloody afterimages through the air.

Just as Zaro leaped into the air, an engine's roar tore through the night.

A black sedan burst out from the side like a beast let loose from its cage. Its blinding high beams lit the battlefield white as it rammed straight toward the man and wolf.

Under the glare of the high beams, Han Fei instinctively narrowed his eyes and frowned.

"Where the hell did this high-beam asshole come from?"

As he spoke, the kinetic assistance device at his waist activated instantly. White airwaves burst beneath his feet in a swirling ring, propelling him several meters backward.

But Zaro, suspended in midair, had nowhere to brace itself.

BOOM!!!

The collision of steel and flesh was deafening. The sedan's windshield exploded into a shower of crystal shards on impact, and Zaro's huge body was driven straight into the twisted hood.

The car did not slow in the slightest, shoving the giant wolf forward in a mad rush as Zaro's claws scraped dazzling sparks across the hood.

For a time, the shriek of twisting metal and Zaro's enraged howl tangled together. Only after plowing a vicious trench over ten meters long did it finally come to a stop.

Operation You

Texas hurried to Han Fei's side and supported him as he landed, asking with concern, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

Han Fei waved a hand, indicating that he was unharmed.

Zaro's Hemolytic Terror was actually extremely powerful. Its bleeding effect intensified over time, and at its limit, it could drain thirty percent of one's health in a single second.

The numbers alone showed just how terrifyingly lethal Zaro's move was. Unfortunately for it, it had encountered Han Fei, who did not take bleeding debuffs.

Bleed all you want. Shield Dog's ultimate would one-shot it.

Compared to the bleeding status on his body, Han Fei was more curious about the high-beam asshole from before. Judging from that charge, the driver had clearly intended to run him over.

He narrowed his eyes at the sedan. In the clear moonlight, a silver-haired figure stepping out of the car came into view.

So it was Lappland.

One hand rested on the car door while the other casually lay on the long sword at her waist. Moonlight outlined her silhouette with a cold silver edge.

Noticing Han Fei's gaze, Lappland tilted her head and flashed a dazzling smile. Sharp canine teeth peeked out between her lips.

"What a shame. I didn't turn you into meat patties."

Han Fei snorted. "Shouldn't you be looking after your subordinates? What are you chasing after us for?"

"Why do you care why I came? Do I need to report to you wherever I go?"

As she spoke, Lappland slowly walked forward. Her boots crushed the dry grass of the wilderness, producing faint crackling sounds.

At that moment, two black cars pulled up one after the other. Ten elite assassins of the Saluzzo Family quickly spread out and formed an encirclement, the cold gleam of poisoned crossbow bolts flashing beneath the moonlight.

Before the words had even faded, a piercing screech of twisting metal suddenly came from atop the black car that had caused the accident.

At some point, Zaro's massive body had climbed onto its roof. Its claws gouged four vicious trenches through the metal, and its scarlet beast eyes locked tightly onto Lappland's back. A low growl, carrying the stench of blood, washed over them.

"Saluzzo brat, you're courting death."

"So you were what I hit just now. My apologies, it was dark and I couldn't see clearly."

Lappland spoke words of apology, but there was not a trace of remorse on her face.

Zaro had already been in a foul mood. Han Fei's appearance had disrupted all of its plans, and now Lappland's collision had completely drawn out its ferocity.

It did not care who Lappland had come for. It only knew that the one sent flying just now had not been Han Fei—it had been Zaro itself!

The next second, two red flashes streaked through the air. Carrying a bloody gust of wind, Zaro pounced at Lappland.

Clang!

Twin silver-white blades crossed before Lappland's chest, precisely blocking the fatal strike for her.

Having missed, Zaro recoiled back onto the car. Then it threw back its head and howled at the moon, about to inflict Hemolytic Terror upon Lappland.

However, at that very moment, a burst of gunfire interrupted Zaro's "casting."

RIP rounds punched precisely through Zaro's throat, turning its howl into a strange whimper.

"Oh?"

Lappland turned around and looked at Han Fei with some surprise. "You actually helped me?"

Han Fei said, "Rather than that, shouldn't you be more concerned about the wolf in front of you? It seems pretty angry."

Lappland burst into laughter, then proposed, "Let's make a deal. Give me back my swords, and I'll help you deal with it. As for the grudge between us, we can settle that afterward."

Han Fei narrowed his eyes, looking somewhat hesitant.

Lappland's twin swords were seriously valuable—ridiculously expensive. A pair of long swords was worth nearly as much as a fully modified gun.

He really was reluctant to simply return them.

Lappland saw his hesitation and teasingly said, "Not agreeing? Then I won't bother."

"Who do you think you're dealing with? Saluzzo brat."

The moment those words fell, Zaro appeared behind Lappland like a ghost, opening its bloody maw as it prepared to bite down.

Clang!

Another clash of metal rang out.

Two long swords thrust into the wolf's jaws like crossed lightning bolts. Metal scraped against fangs, showering dazzling sparks. Texas's forearms trembled slightly under the immense pressure, yet she still held firm against the deadly bite.

"Don't get distracted."

While using her swords to block Zaro's bite, Texas glanced sideways at Lappland.

Looking at Texas beside her, Lappland's expression became somewhat strange. A hint of reminiscence surfaced in her eyes as she softly asked, "Cellinia, how long has it been since we last fought side by side?"

Texas answered coolly, "I forgot."

"Heh."

Lappland's lips curled upward. Naturally, she did not believe Texas's answer. It was merely an excuse the latter used to demonstrate her resolve to sever herself from the family.

The next second, Lappland held out her hand directly toward Han Fei.

"Give me my swords."

"Damn it, Lappland. You'd better compensate me next time we meet."

Saying this, Han Fei took out the twin swords from his backpack and tossed them directly to Lappland.

She caught them steadily. The instant both hands closed around the weapons, her entire bearing abruptly changed.

"Yes, yes. That's it. Very good."

Killing intent flickered in Lappland's eyes as the shadow of a gray giant wolf emerged at her side.

"Huh?"

Han Fei was instantly startled. She only got a different pair of swords. How the hell did she even summon a Wolf Spirit?

In truth, Han Fei had simply remembered it wrong.

The Wolf Spirit was Lappland's Originium Arts and had nothing to do with Zaro.

She had been able to summon a Wolf Spirit back when she was still a five-star Guard. That was before she even got an alter!

Lappland swung her long sword, and the blade light transformed into a wolf-shaped phantom that tore toward Zaro's body.

Meanwhile, the Saluzzo elite assassins looked at one another, all hesitating.

Their objective on this mission was clearly Cellinia, yet their young mistress had not attacked the target. Instead, she was fighting the Lord of Wolves.

The assassins loyal to the Saluzzo Family were at a loss. Should they follow the original plan and continue attacking Cellinia? Or should they follow their young mistress and fight Zaro instead?

Just as the Saluzzo assassins stood at a loss, an explosion thundered from the battlefield not far away.

The shockwave from the Crouching Tiger Cannon sent Zaro's mountain-like body flying. The giant wolf traced an arc through the air before crashing heavily into the wilderness.

Texas's blades dragged two cold streaks beneath the moonlight. She sprang forward with the momentum, and her twin swords pierced through Zaro's chest like crossed lightning.

At the same instant, Lappland's figure appeared almost together with her blade light. The silver-haired girl spun and slashed out a crescent arc, her sharp edge precisely cutting open Zaro's throat. Thick blood gushed out at once, droplets splattering across her pale face and adding an enchanting touch of savagery.

The gray giant wolf collapsed onto the ground, but it was not dead. Its vicious eyes glared at the two girls before it.

The Beast Lord's undying nature granted it an indescribably powerful vitality. Mere external wounds could not kill it at all.

Suddenly, a figure blocked Zaro's gaze from the two girls.

Holding a large shield, Han Fei appeared before Zaro. He looked down at the fallen Lord of Wolves and said, "I know I can't kill you. But, Zaro, I have a way to keep you from getting back up."

As he spoke, Han Fei raised his heavy riot shield, ready to smash it with another shield bash at any time.

As the Lord of Wolves, when had Zaro ever suffered such humiliation?

Yet Han Fei's combo somehow worked every time!

Zaro could not understand why its enormous body was so powerless before this man. Whether it was the shield bash or those air cannonballs, the moment either one connected, it would be sent flying.

Though it had suffered a loss, Zaro's status made it unwilling to bow its head. It bared its teeth at Han Fei, about to let out a threatening growl.

The large shield smacked it across the head.

"Behave!"

"Boy, do you know—"

"I told you to behave. Can't you understand human speech?"

After being sent flying by shield bashes twice in a row, Zaro was feeling a little numb. For a moment, it began to wonder whether the person before it was some kind of Beast Lord too. Otherwise, there was no reason for it, a dignified Lord of Wolves, to be bashed around so miserably.

But looking at the man, Zaro could not find the slightest trace of a beast upon him.

At that moment, Zaro was completely numb.

Whether it was Lappland or Cellinia, even if the two girls joined forces, Zaro was confident it could defeat them.

That confidence came from its identity as a Beast Lord. There was no reason for an undying Lord of Wolves to suffer at the hands of wolf pups.

Yet it had encountered an unreasonable freak like Han Fei. One large shield kept bashing it until it could not move, and Zaro could not think of any way to break the situation.

Avoid him? It could not avoid him at all!

That large shield could shoot jets. There was nowhere to dodge!

A series of shield bashes had made this Lord of Wolves, who had endured countless years, begin questioning its entire existence. Was this some new Originium Art developed by a certain country?

No, that was not right. Those shield bashes were not Originium Arts at all!

After silently pondering the matter to no avail for a long while, Zaro finally spoke.

"Boy, I acknowledge your strength."

"Mm-hm?"

Han Fei held up his large shield. This time, he did not immediately bash Zaro again, instead patiently waiting for it to finish.

"But you cannot kill me."

As it spoke, Zaro rose from the ground. It shook its body, scattering dust from its fur, then continued, "Without my promise, Siracusa's shadow will continue hanging over Cellinia. Are you certain you want her to spend the rest of her life fleeing Siracusan pursuit?"

"You don't need to worry about that."

Han Fei patted his riot shield. "I don't think you Siracusans can keep pestering my Cellinia forever. If you don't believe me, we can make a bet."

That confidence caused Zaro to misunderstand something.

Zaro had seen Han Fei without his helmet. The sight had immediately made it think of Yan.

At the time, Zaro had merely taken Han Fei for a nameless nobody and paid him no mind at all. Even if he was from Yan, Zaro did not care.

But things were completely different now.

Having witnessed Han Fei's methods, his identity as a Yanese naturally made Zaro's thoughts wander.

"So what if you flee to Yan? Even if she is in Great Yan, Siracusan assassins will still follow her like a shadow."

"Really?"

Han Fei blinked. Zaro, you're actually pretty considerate. You thought of something I didn't.