Mecha Are Way Too Overpowered!

Bai Xuan immediately reached out and gripped Marée Alaira's Dragon Horns tightly.

The moment he touched them, he felt as though his soul had become one with Marée Alaira's!

There it is!

It's responding!

Move—!

At Bai Xuan's command, a crimson light flashed through the eyes of Crimson of the End α.

Then its massive body sprang to life. It took heavy steps toward the Swiftwind Wolf King.

"W-What is that thing!?"

The sight of the Red Dragon Mecha moving left Three of Spades dumbstruck. It was beyond anything she knew.

A mecha?

The Huaguo Investigation Bureau has mecha, sure... but since when can one appear out of thin air?

Don't they need a pilot in the cockpit to start up?

How could it...

One flash of red—

And it just appeared out of nowhere!?

What kind of monster is he!?

The appearance of Crimson of the End α also made the Swiftwind Wolf King tremble all over.

It could clearly sense the gulf in strength between itself and the red mecha!

Instinctive fear drove it backward.

"Trying to run?"

Marée Alaira snorted. "Did I say you could?"

Before she finished speaking, the dragon wings on Crimson of the End α's back snapped open and beat downward!

In an instant, it soared above the Swiftwind Wolf King!

"Awooo?"

The Swiftwind Wolf King looked up in terror.

It was a monster famed for its speed, yet before Crimson of the End α, it was as slow as a stray dog!

"Take this."

Under Bai Xuan's control, the Red Dragon Mecha drove a claw straight into the Wolf King's head.

Boom—!

The Swiftwind Wolf King slammed into the ground with a deafening crash and let out an agonized howl.

"No... That's impossible..."

The staggering difference in strength sent Three of Spades stumbling backward, disbelief filling her eyes.

She couldn't accept that the Swiftwind Wolf King she had painstakingly raised—even awakening its ancient bloodline—was nothing but a plaything in her opponent's hands!

"Impossible! This is impossible! Fight back, my child!"

Three of Spades screamed, "Bite it to pieces!"

At her command, the Swiftwind Wolf King struggled to its feet, opened its enormous jaws, and bit down hard on the right arm of Crimson of the End α.

The moment it sank its teeth into the arm, the Swiftwind Wolf King regretted it.

The dragon scales of Crimson of the End α were impossibly hard. Its razor-sharp fangs shattered on impact!

With its fangs gone, the Swiftwind Wolf King could only whimper and retreat in a panic.

"Damn it!"

Three of Spades gritted her teeth and gave another order. "Swiftwind Wolf King! Use Shuddering Tornado!"

"Awooo—"

The Swiftwind Wolf King steadied itself and cast its spell. The Wind Horn atop its head blazed with dazzling green light.

In an instant, winds gathered from every direction. A violent tornado took shape and swept toward Crimson of the End α!

Bai Xuan simply guided Marée Alaira's Crimson of the End α through the attack without a hint of panic.

With one beat of its wings, it burst through the raging wind and appeared before the Swiftwind Wolf King!

Then it swung a claw, striking the Wind Horn with crushing force—

Crack!

The Wind Horn snapped clean off!

The Swiftwind Wolf King staggered backward, howling in agony. Its limbs convulsed from the pain before its massive body crashed to the ground!

It landed squarely on the woman wearing the Three of Spades mask!

"Ah!"

After one scream, both the Swiftwind Wolf King and Three of Spades lay dead.

"Crushed to death?"

Bai Xuan paused.

I guess she was just too small next to a monster that big.

Not like me. I've got a mecha to pilot.

Disengage.

Another flash of red light ended Bai Xuan and Marée Alaira's fusion, restoring them both to their original forms.

"Hmph! What a pushover of a puppy!"

Marée Alaira didn't seem satisfied yet. She gave the Swiftwind Wolf King another kick, then ran happily back to Bai Xuan's side.

Bai Xuan walked over to the broken Wind Horn. The moment he touched it, a notification appeared:

[Wind Horn (Blue): Can be placed in the World Book to craft a Gale Shield.]

"Defensive equipment?"

Bai Xuan murmured, then placed it in the World Book.

[Crafting Gale Shield. Time remaining: 48 hours.]

Just as he finished, Su Yue and her butler came up behind him.

"Thank you for saving me."

Su Yue clasped her hands behind her back and smiled as she thanked Bai Xuan.

Bai Xuan turned to face her and replied calmly, "You're welcome."

With that, he made to leave with Marée Alaira.

But Su Yue hurried in front of him. "Please wait! I'd like to give you a gift to thank you."

"?"

Bai Xuan looked puzzled.

"This!"

Su Yue brought out a small box from behind her back and held it out to him. "Please take it!"

Bai Xuan accepted the box, a trace of curiosity in his eyes.

"Can I open it now?" he asked quietly.

"No!" Su Yue shook her head slightly and asked with a smile, "Wait until you get home, okay?"

Bai Xuan narrowed his eyes but said nothing more. "Oh."

"And one more thing—"

With her hands still behind her back, Su Yue took a small step closer.

She bent forward a little, tilted her face up toward Bai Xuan, and asked softly, "Have we... met somewhere before?"

"Maybe," Bai Xuan replied evenly.

"Oh?"

Su Yue hopped half a step back, an expectant smile touching her lips.

Her bright eyes flickered. "Then... could we be friends? The kind of friend who can keep your secrets?"

"..."

Bai Xuan didn't answer. He only said, "We'll meet again if fate allows."

A Teleportation Array quietly lit up beneath his feet.

"Let's go," he said to Marée Alaira.

"Okay, human!"

Marée Alaira hurried over to Bai Xuan, and they stepped into the Teleportation Array together.

Pink light flashed, and the two of them vanished into the night.

"Heh."

Su Yue smiled at the spot where Bai Xuan had disappeared.

"Miss, should I assign someone to investigate them?" the old butler asked.

"No need. I'll handle this myself."

The moment Bai Xuan got home, he turned in the quest.

[World Quest: Swiftwind Wolf King (Completed)]

[Quest reward: Item — Wolf Mother's Heart (Blue)]

[Wolf Mother's Heart (Blue): Can be eaten after cooking. Moderately increases Agility when consumed. (Serves up to five people.)]

"Food?"

Bai Xuan was a little surprised by the reward.

He hadn't expected this quest to reward him with a wolf's heart.

And now... he had two hearts.

But a wolf's heart was different from a Ghoul's.

At least he could bring himself to eat this one.

"Little Marie,"

Bai Xuan turned to Marée Alaira. "How about wolf heart for dinner?"

"Wolf heart? Yes, please!"

"Then I'll cook."