Chapter 75: The Beast Tamer and the Moon Lion Chu He
Time rewound to half an hour ago.
Several intersections surrounding the Marriott Hotel were already lying in ambush with multiple Mid-Rank Awakened.
"This operation requires us to catch these evil organization members in one fell swoop. Do not alert the enemy prematurely."
"I repeat, the core figure of this terrorist attack is a Mid Expert Awakened, codenamed 'Beast Tamer'."
"Priority is to capture him alive."
Chu He's voice came through the earpiece. Feng Qi whispered, "Copy that."
However, her gaze kept drifting toward the outer walls of the Marriott Hotel. "I have an ominous premonition."
"Attention all units," Chu He's voice sounded again.
"Target 'Beast Tamer' has appeared at the intersection of Zone B. Personnel in Zones A and C, converge on my position. Zone D, remain on standby."
Feng Qi looked toward Zone B. At the end of the street, a man wearing a fur coat despite the scorching heat suddenly appeared.
Passersby brushing past him cast strange looks his way.
The man was tall and gaunt, with his hands in his pockets. His cheeks were sunken, and there was a twisted scar at the corner of his right lip.
He hummed a little tune as he walked through the bustling street, a faint smile hanging on his lips.
When he arrived at the entrance of the Marriott Hotel, he stopped, pursed his lips, and shook his head. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. What a grand formation."
"Come on out, all of you!"
"Why are you shouting so loud?" Chu He dug his finger into his ear, appearing in front of the Beast Tamer before anyone realized it.
The Beast Tamer looked Chu He up and down, his eyes landing on the fox embroidery at the hem of his clothes.
"Silver Fox Squad?" The man grinned, revealing two sharp canine teeth. "I didn't expect the Alliance to send such a big shot to stop me. I'm flattered."
"Scarlet Carnation, Beast Tamer." Chu He's eyes sharpened as he drew the longsword in his hand. "We've been tracking you for half a month. You finally showed your face."
"Che." The Beast Tamer scoffed.
He raised the right hand he had kept in his pocket. However, what was revealed wasn't a human hand, but a hideous snake head flicking its tongue.
In the blink of an eye, it elongated and transformed into a giant python, lunging fiercely at Chu He. The open maw was large enough to swallow an adult whole.
Chu He tapped his toes on the ground, his body soaring into the air. His blade traced a cold arc under the moonlight, slashing straight for the python's "seven inches"—its vital weak point.
But just as the sword tip was about to touch the scales, the python's body suddenly twisted. Several palm-sized poisonous scorpions burst explosively from the snake's belly.
"Cheap tricks." Chu He's gaze turned cold. "Sudden Rain!"
The longsword in his hand swung frantically, the sword energy forming a protective barrier like falling rain in front of him.
The incoming scorpions were instantly minced into dregs.
In that momentary delay, the python roared and bit towards Chu He.
Simultaneously, the Beast Tamer flashed behind Chu He.
His left arm was raised high, instantly bulging and deforming. It burst through the fur coat, revealing a massive mechanical metal arm as thick as a stone pier.
"Hahahaha! Iron Body! Steel Explosive Fist!" The Beast Tamer laughed savagely as he smashed his fist toward Chu He's back.
Chu He was attacked from both front and back, unable to dodge in time.
Bang!!!
The moment of impact caused a thunderous explosion, kicking up a cloud of thick smoke.
"Ahhhhhh!!!"
The pedestrians, finally reacting to the situation, began to scream and scatter in panic.
"Boys! Surround this place!" The Beast Tamer shouted.
In the next instant, Scarlet Carnation members who had been disguised as passersby sprang into action, taking control of the civilians.
"Cough, cough." Chu He's voice drifted out from the smoke. "Marine Six Style, mechanical arm, chimera body modification. Target capabilities confirmed."
The smoke cleared, revealing Chu He looking up at the full moon in the sky. "It's a good day."
In the next moment.
White fur sprouted all over his body. His hair grew long and draped behind his head like a lion's mane, and arcs of electricity flickered around him.
His aura, originally that of a Low Expert, exploded upwards, sending a wave of oppressive pressure in all directions.
The corners of Chu He's mouth hooked up, his eyes glowing crimson. "Moon Lion Form."
The Beast Tamer swallowed hard. He had heard of this state.
The Vice Captain of the Silver Fox Squad, Moon Lion Chu He.
It was said to be some kind of bloodline talent ability, comparable to Zoan-type Devil Fruit users.
"Everyone, prepare to evacuate the crowd," Chu He spoke into his headset.
The next moment, his figure vanished.
An arc of lightning circled the entire Marriott Hotel in an instant.
When he reappeared...
The surrounding small-fry evil organization members all fell to the ground.
"Is... is this the Moon Lion Form?" The Awakened hiding on the second floor of a dessert shop trembled.
Just now, when that arc of lightning from Chu He swept past, they could even see ripples in the air caused by the heat in their tactical lenses.
Those outer members of Scarlet Carnation didn't even have time to scream before they were knocked unconscious by the electric current, leaving them no room to resist.
Standing by the side of the hotel entrance, Feng Qi was secretly astonished. A Low Expert in Moon Lion Form was even more terrifying than the High Expert Awakened she had seen before.
This was the strength of a Special Squad!
"Zone D is responsible for the shops on the east side, Zone A handle the cleanup!" She was the first to snap back to reality, barking orders into her headset. "Set up the perimeter seals."
At the same time, she reached out and grabbed two passersby who were frozen in place. "Leave quickly! It's dangerous here!"
The Beast Tamer's expression turned grave.
He suddenly raised his hand, and the snake-head python surged in size again.
The snake's mouth sprayed jet-black venom, aiming right for Chu He's face.
Simultaneously, the mechanical left arm emitted the clack-clack roar of shifting metal.
Chu He grinned, his white mane whipping sharply in the night wind.
"Lion's Roar!"
His sword, wrapped in lightning, unleashed a flying slash. The buzzing sound of the current suppressed the hiss of the python like a lion's roar.
The python's venom was evaporated into a cloud of white mist by the electric arc before it could even get close.
The Beast Tamer refused to show weakness. His figure reappeared in front of Chu He, his mechanical arm roaring as he smashed it down viciously.
"Finger Pistol: Siege Cannon!"
Chu He twisted sideways to dodge the mechanical arm's strike, causing the arm to explode again.
But the explosion had no effect on Chu He. He swung a fist wreathed in electricity, smashing it ruthlessly into the joint of the mechanical arm.
Clang—!
An ear-piercing sound of metal on metal echoed through the street. A deep dent appeared on the surface of the mechanical arm.
The Beast Tamer let out a miserable scream. The recoil force sent him stumbling back, crashing into the glass curtain wall of the hotel, causing cracks to spread across the glass.
By this time, Feng Qi had already guided the last wave of pedestrians to the safe zone at the street corner.
Just as she returned to Chu He's side of the battlefield, she saw a birdman in the sky charge straight into the hotel dizzily.
"That is...?" Feng Qi's ominous premonition grew stronger.
The Beast Tamer pried himself out of the wall and suddenly burst into loud laughter.
The laughter was sharp, like fingernails scraping against sheet metal. His gaze suddenly shifted to Feng Qi. "The three Training Camp students in the Marriott Hotel are named Long Aotian, Chen Yu, and Ling Yue, right?"
"They're going to die."
"How do you know that?!" Feng Qi's pupils contracted violently.
Information regarding the Training Camp was classified Alliance intelligence. Apart from core personnel, no one knew the list of students coming to Haibin City this time, and certainly, no one knew they were arranged to stay at the Marriott Hotel!
The Beast Tamer shook his head smugly, reaching out to stroke the head of his giant python. "Hehehe, take a guess."
Chu He frowned. "With me here, do you think you can kill them?"
The Beast Tamer grinned, revealing ghastly white teeth. "Of course I know."
"That's why I've been stalling you here for so long."
Suddenly, Yining's voice rang out in Chu He's earpiece: "Captain Chu, they seem to be... preparing some kind of summoning circle."
At that same moment, the Beast Tamer's smile turned hideous. He suddenly raised his hand and slapped the ground. "My 'artwork' is about to make its debut."
As soon as his voice fell, the ground began to tremble.
Centered on the Beast Tamer's feet, a blue-black magic circle slowly unfolded, runes flickering with a ghostly light on the ground.
Black lightning flashed ominously.
The surrounding Awakened retreated one after another, looks of horror appearing on their faces.
An extremely terrifying aura was slowly rising from the magic circle.
...
(To be Continued)