Chapter 322: Humans vs. Predator, Gu Zi Yun VS Shadow Storm
The clouds in the sky churned, and a Predator Ship descended vertically from high altitude with a muffled 'hissing' sound.
A thick, deep blue light curtain, several meters thick, covered the entire spaceship. This light curtain could not only withstand attacks from various heavy weapons but also absorb all radar waves currently mastered by Earth's technology.
A few years ago, the Predator's spacecraft relied on such Energy Shields to enter and exit Earth's atmosphere with impunity, holding the Predator's Adult Trial / Rite of Passage at the Pyramid Hunting Ground in Antarctica.
However, Earth's technological development has progressed far beyond the Predator's imagination.
The spaceship had just hovered at an altitude of ten kilometers above Leon Base when it was scanned by the Artificial Intelligence Red Queen's Skynet System.
At Boss Tang's signal, she immediately marked the spaceship's location on the base's Radar.
Facing the blatant Red Dot displayed on the Radar, the base's Guard personnel, whose minds were taut, immediately activated the base's Missile Strike System. Following the invisible Signal commands within the base, uniform fissures opened up in various parts of the Ground, and smooth Steel Plates silently slid open to the sides.
Large Missiles rose from the Ground, accompanied by muffled roars.
From over a dozen Missile Silos, dozens of Medium-Range Ballistic Missiles whistled and soared into the Sky.
A Military Satellite under the Federation's control happened to fly overhead. After Red Queen seized its Clearance, she timely provided precise Target guidance for the launched Medium-Range Ballistic Missiles.
Nearly fifty Medium-Range Ballistic Missiles of the same specification were launched simultaneously from various parts of the base. Long trails of Flames left conspicuous Marks in the Air, and all the trails ultimately converged at the same point.
The Predator Ship, which had just hovered and shut down its Energy Shield to achieve Stealth, was instantly engulfed in Firelight. For certain Reasons (after all, Leon Base was too close to the Federal Mainland), the Medium-Range Ballistic Missiles in the base did not carry Tactical Nuclear Warheads.
Instead, they were replaced with High-explosive Warheads. The Predator Ship's Radar System detected the Missile Lock-on immediately. While performing Evasion, it instantly reactivated its Energy Barrier.
However, due to Red Queen's precise guidance, even after evading more than half of the Missiles, several Missiles loaded with High-explosive Warheads accurately struck the Predator Ship's tail.
The Predator Ship, which had barely activated its Energy Protection, was violently struck by the intense Explosion and instantly lost its balance.
In just these short ten-odd seconds, a second wave of Missile Attack struck Leon Base once again. Long trails of Smoke tore through the Air.
This time, dozens of Missiles carrying High-explosive Warheads all hit their Target.
Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom—
Facts proved that as long as the yield was sufficient, Gunpowder Weapons were no less powerful than Energy Weapons.
Dozens of Missiles Bombardment in one wave directly tore through the Predator Ship's barely supported Energy Shield, shattering the two-meter thick outer Armor on the spaceship.
The continuous chain of secondary Explosions directly dismembered the Predator Ship.
A massive Mushroom Cloud rose into the Air, and the scattered Predator Ship parts were blasted and shot in all directions.
On a twin-rotor Helicopter hovering in mid-air, General Ross held Military Binoculars and watched the scene of the Missiles hitting their Target, shouting excitedly:
"Well done!"
As for why General Ross was on the Aircraft, in fact, the moment they realized Predators with Invisibility had infiltrated the base.
After contacting each other through the Encrypted System, the Base Command Leadership, except for some Command personnel remaining at key Posts, all boarded Helicopters and Fighter Jets to conduct mobile Command from the Air.
This was also the fastest Method the Base's High-level Staff could think of to deal with the Stealth Predators.
Inside the base, some Soldiers wearing Infrared Helmets were holding Weapons, assisted by a group of Iron Soldiers, searching for traces of the Predators hidden within the base.
The Iron Soldiers hovering above the base used the Infrared Scanning Device inside their bodies to lock onto Targets.
Other Soldiers quietly surrounded the Targets.
Within the Encrypted Communication System, General Ross and other Base High-level Command Officers' Orders sounded from time to time: "All Soldiers attention, all Soldiers attention! Do not arouse the Target's Suspicion, wait for the Order, then initiate Focused Fire Attack, this is an Order!"
In the Communication Channel, Command Systems responded one by one, "Yes! Officer!"
However, it was clear that the Base Command Leadership had underestimated the Hunting Ability of creatures like the Predator. A Top Hunter needs to be aware of all Threats in a complex Environment.
Despite the minimal movements made by the Human side, they still couldn't hide from these Predators.
Suddenly, in the silent Communication Channel, a rough Voice roared: "Careful, he's noticed, watch out for Evasion!"
A Soldier wearing an Infrared Helmet hadn't figured out what was happening when three Red Dots appeared on his chest.
"Boom!"
Blood rained down. This Soldier, who had been active on the East African Battlefield for a long time with the French Foreign Legion, was directly blasted into meat paste by a sudden Shoulder Cannon shot.
"Shit! Fox, watch your left side, the Enemy attacking Porcupine is at your left, three o'clock!"
A short Ethnic Chinese Soldier heard his Comrade-in-arms' words. Without time to think, driven by trust in his Teammate, he raised his M249 Machine Gun with a backhand and unleashed a burst of Firepower and suppression towards the reported Position.
"Da da da da da da da—"
Almost simultaneously, a blinding Red Light aimed at the French Foreign Legion Mercenary codenamed Fox.
The tragic state of his companion Porcupine was still vivid in his mind. Fox looked at the three Red Dots fixed on his M249 Machine Gun Magazine, threw the Gun away, and dove to the side.
Just as Fox rolled and hid behind the wheel of an Armored Vehicle, the Position where he had just stood exploded with a boom.
His arm, which hadn't fully retracted behind the Armored Vehicle, was directly grazed by a flying Machine Gun Part, and Blood instantly Soaked Through his Camouflage Uniform. A Soldier, quick-witted, dragged him behind the Armored Vehicle Cover, saving him from dying in the aftershock of the Explosion.
Da da da da da—
Swish swish swish swish—
The Predator who had just fired its Shoulder Cannon also simultaneously exposed its Position. The spot where it stood was instantly subjected to a Storm-like barrage of strikes!
With a muffled grunt, in the dense Hail of Bullets, streams of green Blood appeared out of nowhere in the empty Air ahead, followed by the emergence of a tall Predator Figure.
The injured Predator's Shoulder Cannon's Red Light immediately lit up, Aiming at the Tank in front of it and launching an Attack.
Boom! The Predator's Shoulder Cannon had enough Force to penetrate the Tank's Armor. Half of the Tank, along with the Machine Gunner on the Tank who was shooting at the Predator, was directly blasted into Dust.
After one Strike, the Predator turned and ran back. As it ran, its body surface began to enter a stealth state, aided by the gravitational waves released by its armor.
Seeing this Predator escape by blending into the crowd, a muffled thunder-like roar came from the Sky.
More than a dozen Attack Helicopters flying at Low Altitude began their assault on the predetermined Targets. The Rocket Pods suspended under the Helicopters' stub wings simultaneously emitted sharp whistles.
"Swish swish swish swish swish swish—"
Large clouds of Smoke and Firelight completely covered the majority of the eight Helicopters' bodies. Hundreds of 50mm caliber Rockets from the Rocket Pods were unleashed in just a few seconds.
Each Rocket left a long trail of Flames in the Air, "Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom—"
The Targets of these Rockets were not only the escaping Predator but also the Predators hidden among the crowd. To avoid alarming these Stealth Hunters.
The Base Command Leadership didn't even have time to evacuate the Soldiers close to the Attack points.
Ultimately, almost all the Rockets hit their Targets.
Thunderous Explosion Sounds continuously rang out. Many Predators were blasted out of their Stealth Mode, spitting up large mouthfuls of Blood, many even had their Skin charred like charcoal.
Some unsuspecting Predators had their bodies torn to Shattered.
Equally tragic were the base Soldiers who were close to these Predators. Although the Attack Helicopters had tried their best to avoid friendly fire.
But with the Explosion Radius of dozens of meters, a large number of nearby Soldiers were still Casualties.
Many Soldiers who were further away were not enveloped by the aftershocks of the Explosion, but many were still shaken to the point of Bleeding from the Seven Orifices. A benevolent commander does not lead troops. At this moment, the Base's High-level Staff had no time to consider the Soldiers' Casualties. They were all staring nervously at the descending Iron Soldiers.
These Iron Soldiers sprayed blue Plasma Flames from their feet and arrived at the center of the Explosion almost immediately, grabbing the dead or dying Predators and flying into the Air.
This moment felt like years to the Base's High-level Staff.
The existence of Predators and Aliens was not a secret to some Countries. Just like the Federation's The Pentagon, and *Country's* ***, they had conducted in-depth Research on these two types of Extraterrestrial Life Forms.
However, so far, foreign Alien Research Institutions only possessed some Predator Weapons, such as the Shoulder Cannons and Masks they left behind in Ancient Ruins.
As for living Predators, they had indeed appeared in modern times, but these Extraterrestrial Life Forms had a characteristic: they would Self-Destruct. Once they encountered irresistible Danger, they would activate the Self-Destruct Program on their Equipment.
The Federal Department of Defense's Alien Research Institution had conducted a detailed Ruin investigation. Based on the Shockwave Traces they left behind, the Explosion Power generated by these Predators' Self-Destruct was completely comparable to a Tactical Nuke.
The Base's High-level Staff were almost trembling with Fear when facing these Predators, but they couldn't help but counterattack.
These Aliens were clearly after the Cosmic Cube.
If they were allowed to take the Cosmic Cube, every single member of the Base's High-level Staff would end up in a Court-Martial.
As for whether the Predator's Self-Destruct would endanger the Safety of the base personnel, some Base High-level Staff had received a Secret Order.
Even if the entire base personnel were sacrificed, the Cosmic Cube must be protected.
In the Eyes of High-level figures, the bottom-level Soldiers were often just cold numbers.
This was one of the Reasons why the Base's High-level Staff were flying in mid-air; they were avoiding the potential Self-Destruct Crisis.
Fortunately, until the Iron Soldiers carried these Predators away from the base, the anticipated Predator Self-Destruct did not trigger.
This Self-Destruct Program was indeed the Predator's last resort to perish with the Enemy, but for a large-scale Hunt involving several Predators cooperating.
Self-Destruct was often the Method used by the last Predator when the Hunt failed.
Shadow Storm, the most revered and the last hope coveted by the Predators in the Dark Predator Clan, was somewhat disheveled at this moment.
Hunting Discs hovered around him. He held the Metal Hunting Knife of unknown Material in his Right Hand and a Soft Whip in his Left Hand. The Shoulder Cannon on his Shoulder was subtly accumulating Power, ready to fire.
It was evident that Shadow Storm was very cautious at this moment.
His Enemy, however, had changed. The two Card Soldiers, maintaining their Dragon Transformation form, retreated to the side.
Gu Zi Yun, who had volunteered to capture this Predator alive for Boss Tang, was unhurriedly putting on two golden hollowed-out bracer gloves. The Gloves were carved with exquisite Phoenix Totems. Gu Zi Yun pressed the Ruby in the Phoenix's Eye, and five Dark Red Flames immediately surged from the Magic Tool Gloves. The Flames condensed, transforming into five sharp Dark Red Claws.
Beep Beep Beep Beep!
The powerful Energy Fluctuation emanating from the Prey in front of him made Shadow Storm want to turn around and flee immediately.
As a Predator Elder who had lived for over four thousand years, Shadow Storm had hunted too many creatures: Humans, Aliens, Mechanical Lifeforms, Kree, and even wild gods worshipped by primitive Life Forms on some undeveloped Planets. Even Space Beasts living among the Stars had once been his Prey.
But the Life Form before him made him feel a fatal Threat.
Shadow Storm didn't know that it was the Phoenix Force, the Primordial Power of the Universe, that brought him this Threat. Just as Shadow Storm wanted to turn and retreat quickly, a Dark Red Light flashed in Gu Zi Yun's Eyes.
One of the Abilities of the Black Phoenix Personality that Jean Grey once awakened, besides annihilation with the Phoenix Force, was Psychokinesis and immense Psychic Power.
And Gu Zi Yun's Brain Development was originally far beyond that of a Normal Person. After absorbing the Phoenix Force, her Spiritual Power was so vast that even Boss Tang was impressed.
An invisible Mental Attack directly struck Shadow Storm.
With a muffled grunt, Shadow Storm saw Stars flash before his Eyes. He stumbled backward, his steps faltering. However, as a Top Hunter, almost simultaneously with receiving the Mental Attack, he activated the friend-or-foe identification system on his Hunting Disc.
The Hunting Disc flew rapidly around Shadow Storm, protecting his Safety.
Shadow Storm only felt a Figure flash before him. Large sparks flew from the Hunting Discs hovering around him.
Shadow Storm raised his hand, and the Hunting Blade in his Right Hand thrust forward. Rip!
After a sound of Metal friction, Shadow Storm only felt a Great Strength Drag the Hunting Blade from his hand.
Then Shadow Storm felt as if his Body had been hit by a Spaceship. He couldn't control his Body and was directly knocked back over ten meters, embedding himself in the center of the remaining half-Wall of the Reception Hotel.
A quick note here: Due to the special location of the Reception Hotel, its Walls were reinforced and even embedded with Bulletproof Steel Plates.
Shadow Storm was currently embedded in this Bulletproof Steel Plate in a large 'X' shape.
Hiss hiss hiss hiss!
The Hunting Disc, which could easily tear through the Dragon Scales of a Dragon Paper Soldier, was clenched in Gu Zi Yun's Palm. Wrapped in Dark Red Phoenix Force, the Hunting Disc scraped out sparks, yet it couldn't escape Gu Zi Yun's Palm at all.
Crack!
Gu Zi Yun closed her Palm. The Dark Red Phoenix Force squeezed the Hunting Disc in her hand, crushing it into a ball of Scrap Metal.
"Boss Uncle! I think this Blade is pretty good!"
Gu Zi Yun picked up the Hunting Blade again, her Finger directly tracing the Blade Edge of the Hunting Blade. A ball of Phoenix Fire flickered at her Fingertip, burning the Hunting Blade.
Under the burning of the Flames at her Fingertip, this Hunting Blade showed no Change at all. Gu Zi Yun, delighted by the Hunt, swung the Hunting Blade and turned to look at Tang Song, who was sitting and watching the show.
She pouted: "Uncle, the Material of this one is good, but I don't like the shape. Help me forge a new one!"
Tang Song shrugged: "Little Girl, you really don't know good stuff! The Flying Sword I gave you is much more Formidable than this broken Blade!
That Flying Sword gathered the Water Vein Spiritual Energy of the Garden of Eden. If you can nurture it, it's worth ten of this Blade!"
Gu Zi Yun stared with a pair of innocent Eyes, pouting at Tang Song.
"Give it here!"
Tang Song spread his hands helplessly. The Hunting Blade in Gu Zi Yun's hand flew through the Air directly into his Palm.
"Whoosh!"
Tang Song blew out a breath, and a ball of Samadhi Fire appeared out of nowhere, enveloping the Hunting Blade. The Hunting Blade, which had shown no Change in Gu Zi Yun's hand, was directly burned into a puddle of gray-black Liquid by the Flames.
Tang Song pulled his hand through the Air and took out several Metal Ingots from the Five Yin Spatial Wallet. After melting them with Samadhi Fire, he added them to the Liquid.
"This Predator is Kane's Prey to be captured alive. Little Girl, don't mess things up. When his stubborn Personality comes out, even I get a Headache!"
Tang Song said without raising his head, while adding Restriction Formations to the puddle of metal Liquid.
At this moment, Shadow Storm propped his hands against the Wall panel and pried his Body out of the Wall.
Just as he stabilized himself, he shook his hands and threw two Metal Spheres towards Gu Zi Yun.
The two Metal Spheres emitted a hum in mid-air, then released beams of Red Laser. These Red Lasers connected with each other, forming a Laser Net that covered Gu Zi Yun.
"Don't worry, Uncle, I can handle it!"
Gu Zi Yun crossed her Claws. The Skin, Muscle, Blood Vessels, and Meridians and Collaterals on her Palms and Fingers instantly became transparent like white Glazed Tile.
Using the Cultivation Method taught by Tang Song, she circulated the Phoenix Force within her Body. The Dark Red Phoenix Force flowed visibly within her Meridians.
Then, streams of Dark Red Phoenix Force shot out from between the Glove Claws. Hiss hiss hiss hiss!
The Dark Red Phoenix Claw prints flew out. After a fierce clash of Lightning and Fire, they directly tore apart the Laser Net released by Shadow Storm!
(end of chapter)