The Blood Sacrifice for Ivy

With a single, decisive stroke, Pandora cleaved through the radiant energy shield. Before Zeus and Apollo could react, Xiao Feng pressed the muzzle of Black Angel against their temples.

A cold smile curled on Xiao Feng's lips. "My revered gods, you never cease to astonish me. Zeus, I saw with my own eyes how Pandora's blade ended your life. How have you come back from the dead? And Apollo—you claimed the Emissary had purged your abilities, yet here you stand wielding them once more."

Zeus fixed Xiao Feng with a steely glare. "Brat, I never expected to fall at your hands again today. Hmph. Were it not for that mechanical beast assisting you, I would have surely slain you."

"Spare me your empty boasts. Now that you're in my grasp, what use are your threats? This time, I won't be so merciful."

"Ha! You dare?" Zeus sneered, his menace undiminished.

Xiao Feng laughed heartily. "Oh, my lord, you terrify me so! How could I possibly lack the courage? Threaten me all you like." With that, he extended his hand toward the scattered metal shards nearby, unleashing a fierce surge of magnetic control.

The fragments fluttered like autumn leaves, swirling gently into his palm. A sweeping gesture sent them flying toward Zeus, who was swiftly bound like a man forged from iron. Apollo, pinned by Tugou's two formidable machines braced against his skull, dared not move as Xiao Feng wove the metal shards into unyielding shackles around him.

Both Level Eight psychics, now imprisoned in these thick metallic fetters, found themselves utterly powerless.

Above, the battle raged overwhelmingly. The retrofitted X Legion fighters surged like a tidal wave, utterly overwhelming the Alliance squadrons. After subduing Zeus and Apollo, Xiao Feng glanced upward to see the conflict swiftly drawing to a close.

He heaved the captured gods onto their own fighter and slid into the cockpit.

Pandora eyed him curiously. "You're not seriously going to pilot that yourself, are you?"

Xiao Feng smiled. "Why not?"

"You can fly?"

"What's so surprising? My plane's nowhere near the performance of your Trident. No sense racing you—I'll take off first." He sealed the canopy and deftly activated a sequence of controls, bringing the fighter to life.

Pandora and Rush stepped back to avoid the blast of the vertical takeoff jets as Xiao Feng steadied the craft into the sky. He wasted no time calling over the radio to the nearby X Legion fighters: "This is Xiao Feng of the X Legion. We are friendly forces—hold your fire! Hold your fire!"

"Welcome home, Chief Xiao Feng," came the reply from Bowen, commander of the X Legion's First Air Division.

Xiao Feng chuckled. "Alright, let's head back. Anyone want to race?"

Laughter echoed over the comms. Bowen replied, "If the chief's feeling competitive, I'll gladly join."

A fighter pulled alongside Xiao Feng's, its pilot fully equipped and ready. Xiao Feng gave him a thumbs-up before accelerating fiercely.

"Cheating, Chief!" Bowen teased, tailing him at full throttle.

The two jets quickly broke from the formation, racing toward Black Whale City.

Caught up in the thrill of the chase, neither noticed a third craft streak past them at nearly twice their speed—it was Pandora piloting the Trident, vanishing beyond radar detection before they could react.

"What kind of plane was that?" Bowen inquired over the radio.

Xiao Feng laughed softly. "That's the most advanced craft in existence. Forget about catching her."

…

Back in Black Whale City, Xiao Feng unceremoniously dumped Black Dragon, Zeus, and Apollo from the fighter onto the tarmac with heavy thuds. Several X Legion soldiers approached, stunned. They had never seen these temple members before, and the metallic shackles binding them left the soldiers baffled—how could mere metal shards so completely imprison such formidable beings?

Xiao Feng descended and ordered the soldiers, "Take them with you. Come with me."

Nearby, Tugou and Rush escorted Black Dragon, while Pandora strolled behind, seemingly indifferent to the deep bond between Ivy and Xiao Feng—a connection she had never experienced herself.

News of Xiao Feng's return spread swiftly to Rice, who, along with Old White and Alice, arrived at the airfield. Witnessing Xiao Feng loading Black Dragon, Zeus, and Apollo onto a truck, they were left speechless—unable to believe he had captured all three alive.

Rice parked beside Xiao Feng and asked, "Where are you headed?"

Xiao Feng's voice was icy. "I'm going to use their blood to consecrate Ivy and Turner."

Upon hearing this, tears welled in Alice's eyes. She had known Ivy for a long time—their bond ran deep.

Xiao Feng climbed into the truck's driver seat, started the engine, and headed toward the burial site of Ivy and Turner.

Old White rode with Rice, who murmured, "Is Xiao Feng's mindset... off? Why does he insist on using the blood of our enemies to honor Ivy and Turner?"

Old White sighed. "You don't understand their bond. If it were you, you'd do the same."

"Once or twice might be understandable, but will he keep insisting on this? Killing his enemies is one thing, but this blood sacrifice... I just don't get it."

Old White exhaled heavily. "Let him be. He's already burdened with pain. If this ritual soothes his soul, I understand—and support—it."

Several vehicles followed Xiao Feng's truck, racing toward the gravesite. Upon arrival, a heavy sorrow weighed on Xiao Feng's heart; tears brimmed in his eyes.

He unloaded Black Dragon, Zeus, and Apollo onto the ground.

Staring at the somber cemetery before them, the three captives froze. "Damn… Xiao Feng, what are you planning?"