A white Mech hovered a meter off the ground. In her left hand, a white longsword. On her right arm, a white shield. Her pure-white hull matched Gu Xin’s aura. Armor half-wrapped her snow-pale body. A visor hid her face; hair spilled like a waterfall. Skirt armor fell to mid-thigh, like a real skirt. Heels bit the air with ice spikes. Two ice wings fanned behind her. She looked like a princess carved from frost.
No wonder they call you the Princess of Ice—pure dominance.
Number Ten watched her with approval.
He raised both hands; his body lifted, then a black Mech locked onto him. Its signature: curved blades under both forearms, like a praying mantis.
…
Xin, go wide. That guy’s mine.
Meng Yuting had never liked Ten. She bent low and lunged like a panther. Black Armor flowed from crown to heel like ink. Meng Yuting’s Mech matched Gu Xin’s in form but in shadow. Her wings were bat-like; her blades were twin daggers.
Hmph!
Ten snorted and met her.
Bang!
They clashed at the center, sparks flying like fireflies.
Because the hill surface was sealed by Gu Xin’s ice, No. Nine’s summoning array stalled; four fresh skeletons froze into statues.
We’ll handle the Princess!
No. Seven shouted, then split into three clones. They pressed from four directions like tightening jaws.
Gu Xin moved. She whipped the longsword down. The blade bit earth, then ice swords burst outward from that heart.
Careful!
No. Four cried out. Speed was her talent; the ice offered no foothold. She retreated onto a tree like a swift bird.
No. Seven saw the ice and abandoned the charge, fleeing to a tree. No. Eight, still bitter over her lost spider, spat out spider silk. She snared the slow-footed No. Nine and No. Five and hauled them up.
Crack-crack-crack-crack—
In a heartbeat, no ground to stand—only a forest of blades.
Her area attack’s too strong; we can’t get close.
No. Seven stared at the white figure like a snow spirit.
Ten might match her, but Phantom’s on him; he’s got no time.
They glanced at Ten and Phantom, still trading blows. Ordinary ice swords couldn’t harm Mechs. The duel tilted. Ten’s close combat lagged. Phantom’s rapid strikes rained down; he struggled and couldn’t aid his team.
After all this time, you’re still like this? How did I teach you!
Phantom’s voice cut like sleet.
A teacher is a teacher; this student was ignorant.
Ten laughed, a dry edge under the sound.
Bang!
After a heavy trade, they broke apart.
You two truly are our teachers; we fall far short.
Ten eyed the field’s disadvantage; a new plan hardened in his chest.
Save it; we don’t need your fake praise.
Meng Yuting’s words snapped like ice.
He checked the time. We’ve used too long. Since you won’t cooperate, sorry—this won’t be fair anymore.
…
Gu Xin watched, quiet, ready for a sudden strike.
Hongcheng already prepared a back hand. Sorry, teachers.
Ten spoke, and shock flashed in their eyes. A needle of pain stabbed their minds, then blackness took them.
Crack—
As Gu Xin and Phantom fell, the ice web splintered and faded.
Whew—made it in time.
No. Five breathed out, relief fogging like winter air.
Establish an energy barrier.
Ten’s voice cut clean. With them down, their barrier would drop. To avoid trouble, Ten ordered it, then walked to them. He knelt by Gu Xin, gazing at her sleeping face like moonlit snow.
In the end, you’re still mine.
Mad heat sparked in Ten’s eyes.
Get them back. If we delay, Huaguo officials will come.
Skreeee!
Not far overhead, the fresh barrier screamed. A pitch-black beam ripped it and smashed into the mountain like a falling star.
!!!
Everyone jolted, then scattered.
Boom!
The mountain heaved like a waking beast. When the tremor settled and dust thinned, the newcomer stood revealed. Black Mech again, but deeper, dangerous, like a night tide. An amethyst visor stared. A mech rifle on the right arm hummed; its muzzle shed drifting black particles.
Who are you?
Ten frowned; the Anomaly Power felt familiar, like an old scent.
You touched someone you shouldn’t.
Li Muyan’s voice landed cold as frost.
Ten summoned Armor and rushed. They collided.
Whoosh—bang!
Li Muyan absorbed the straight charge, spun, swept a leg, boosted with thrusters, and smashed Ten flying like a broken kite.
Boom—
As Ten hit ground, a beam cannon lashed him. Not good! Ten raised both hands to guard. Five heavy mech shields blossomed. The black beam drilled through four, then died on the fifth.
…
Li Muyan’s brute force stunned everyone like thunder in clear skies.
Who is that? So strong. Why don’t we have her in the files?
No. Five stared at the black Mech, fear puddling cold.
Seven, Eight, Nine, with me. Pin her with area attacks. Four and Five, take the Princess and Phantom. Evacuate.
Ten’s orders fell like stones. Drones unfolded at his side. Skeletons climbed up. White spiders and Seven’s clones flooded the field. The battlefield erupted like a nest of swarming beasts.
Li Muyan frowned. A tide of enemies surged, and in a blink, chaos swallowed her.
She held vast Anomalous Energy, but Tang Coco had never taught combat craft. She fought on raw power. Against so many, she couldn’t break the ring.
Elsewhere, No. Five hoisted Gu Xin and Meng Yuting over broad shoulders. No. Four led ahead like wind through pines. They fled down the slope fast.
Damn!
Li Muyan saw them taking Gu Xin and Meng Yuting. Urgency spiked in her chest; she slipped, and Ten hammered her waist like a piledriver.
She staggered back, tried to cut toward the two, but walls of summons rose like a thorn hedge.
Damn it!
Four and Five reached the foot. A Buick van waited like a dark shell. They loaded the two aboard. No. Four floored it; the van rocketed away like a fleeing comet.
Whew—think we shook them.
No. Five exhaled, the breath thin.
Don’t get careless.
No. Four kept her hands steady, eyes like cold water.
Who was that just now? That black Mech—too strong.
No. Five remembered and shivered, a chill crawling.
No idea. We can’t be sloppy.
The van ran the Ninghai outer ring highway. They aimed for the coast by the port. A micro-sub waited there; once aboard, they’d slip away like fish into the deep.
On the mountain, ten more minutes ground by. Li Muyan still couldn’t break the four’s assault.
Keep draining her. I want her captured.
Ten’s command cut like a blade.
Li Muyan’s Anomalous Energy stayed high, but her spirit frayed. Their summons struck like unending rain.
Hmm? Don’t you feel something off?
No. Eight halted, a prickle on her skin.
They noticed the sky hadn’t shifted. Even the clouds hadn’t moved an inch, like a painting.
This is… damn!
Ten realized it in a flash, face darkening.
Boom!!!!
A convoy of modded Hummers roared up the mountain like thunder. Doors swung; a crowd in black uniforms poured out like a dark stream. From one stepped someone Li Muyan knew—Ningxin.
Huaguo Anomaly Bureau. You’ve used Anomaly Power in our territory to destroy and to assault state personnel. You are now wanted.
Everyone, seize them.
Ningxin gestured like a captain at sea.
Yes!
Abnormals of every stripe rushed Ten’s side like a wave.
Nine!
Ten called.
I know…
No. Nine spoke for the first time, voice like gravel. She raised both hands; a smoking summoning array bloomed under their feet. They sank into the earth and vanished like stones in water.
They’re gone. Don’t chase. Clean the scene.
Ningxin ordered. Their goal was to force a retreat. Her main team wasn’t here; they trained Mech operation at HQ.
You okay, Muyan?
Ningxin’s concern fell gentle as rain.
No! Xin’er-jie was taken!
Li Muyan’s anxiety spiked; she wanted to chase, heart kicking like a drum.
Relax. We got a call earlier. Someone went to rescue them.
Ningxin gave her a calm smile, steady as a lantern.
A call?
Yes. They told us what happened here.
Twenty minutes later, Four and Five reached the port. We go first. Ten’s group can use Nine’s pre-set teleports.
Mm. I’ll ready the sub.
No. Four pulled on dive gear and waded into the sea like a seal. She slipped under, then soon returned, water streaming.
Huh? Why’d you come back?
The sub…
No. Four frowned at the water like a storm brewing.
What about the sub?
No. 5 still didn’t get it; confusion clung like fog. He’d learn why in the next heartbeat...
Splash—
Water heaved, and the wreckage of a mini-sub surfaced nearby, a dark shell bobbing like a dead fish...
Aiya, aiya—where are you taking my daughter’s wives?
All at once, a voice chimed behind the two, light as a bell yet cold as sea spray...
