After Xiaofeng unleashed a rapid volley of gunfire, three helicopters began to mercilessly rain bullets upon the horde of cultists devoted to the Evil Dragon.
There was no room for negotiation—like spotting a swarm of rats or a plague of rotting zombies, the only course was utter annihilation.
As the helicopters opened fire, the cultists scattered into the surrounding forest, but suddenly, a surface-to-air missile shot upward from the treeline.
Xiaofeng knew the Evil Dragon cult was well-armed, yet he never imagined they possessed anti-air missiles. Without hesitation, he swung his rifle and fired a thunderous shot that shattered the missile mid-flight.
Then, a command crackled through their headsets: "Rapid descent, rapid descent... leave no one alive!"
The special operatives aboard the helicopters immediately deployed their fast-ropes. Yet Xiaofeng needed no such aid—he leapt directly from the aircraft.
His daring leap startled the allied soldiers accompanying him.
As he crashed through branches and landed in the dense undergrowth, Xiaofeng pressed himself low to the ground, suddenly struck by an ominous premonition. A black beast burst from the shadows of the forest and lunged at him with terrifying speed.
Startled, Xiaofeng swiftly drew a black alloy blade from his back and warned his comrades through the comms, "Abort the descent! There's a beast in the forest!"
A voice demanded, "Report your situation immediately!"
A sleek black panther had materialized before Xiaofeng. He slashed horizontally, replying, "Grade F beast—numbers unknown!" His blade severed half the panther's skull in a single stroke, and the lifeless body slid across the ground, finally halting against a towering tree.
"Everyone, prepare to support your comrades—execute rapid drop!"
Halfway down from the helicopters, the special operatives released their grips on the ropes. Clad in jet-black tactical armor, they descended like a meteor shower, crashing into the jungle with thunderous impact.
These elite soldiers, clearly highly trained, swiftly formed three-man squads upon landing and opened fire—not randomly, but with lethal precision—as they faced a surging wave of vicious beasts charging at them.
In the ensuing firefight, Xiaofeng finally grasped the overwhelming power of their weaponry. Bullets shimmered with lethal light as they tore through the beasts' tough hides, felling one after another under the hailstorm of gunfire.
The operatives then coalesced into a circular defensive perimeter, bracing against the relentless, ferocious tide of creatures.
Encircled within their formation, Xiaofeng prepared to break free—only to be gripped firmly by a commanding hand.
"Don't be reckless, kid. Orders are to protect you. I've already called for reinforcements. We're clearly trapped in a full ambush. Those vile cultists—how did they manage to command so many beasts? This place is far too dangerous. You mustn't leave this circle!"
Xiaofeng smiled faintly. Carefully disassembling his black "Dark Angel" weapon and securing it in its case, he tightened his grip on the alloy blade and replied to the commander, "I appreciate your concern, but if I'm being protected, then I'm no longer Xiaofeng."
With that, his blade crackled fiercely with dazzling arcs of electricity.
The commander hesitated, then reluctantly released his hold. Xiaofeng sprang high, leaping beyond the protective circle and charging swiftly into the panther pack.
Harnessing his electrifying power, Xiaofeng showed no mercy—his alloy blade flashing as it cleaved through one beast after another.
He had long despised these irradiated mutants, but their alliance with the Evil Dragon cult deepened his hatred tenfold. Nearly every strike dispatched a panther outright, and even those that survived were crippled by the surging electric currents.
Xiaofeng's relentless slaughter left the special operatives awestruck. Witnessing his formidable prowess, they wasted no time: wherever a panther remained alive, the three-man squads would charge in and finish the kill.
Facing Xiaofeng and his elite team's devastating firepower, the beasts stood no chance. Within minutes, the last panther fell beneath Xiaofeng's blade.
Panting, Xiaofeng surveyed the sprawling corpses, his brow furrowed deeply. He could scarcely fathom how the cultists had managed to control such a menagerie of monsters.
Yet the true shock awaited. When an unfamiliar beast suddenly emerged before him, Xiaofeng's heart tightened with dread.
"Grade E beast..." he muttered, eyes fixed on the creature.
A massive black ape stood snarling, bloodshot eyes blazing with fury. It crashed down from a towering cedar, clutching a thick tree trunk like a club. Towering over three meters, its coarse fur bristled as it thumped its chest and advanced toward Xiaofeng.
Had it been merely a lone Grade E ape, Xiaofeng might not have been so unnerved. But behind it, more colossal silhouettes loomed.
Glancing at his wristwatch, Xiaofeng noted a fan-shaped green indicator appearing opposite him.
Breathing in the blood-tinged air, he cursed under his breath, "Damn it—this time we're truly in deep trouble..."