The Formidable Alliance of Xiao Feng and Pandora, Part II

With a deft surge of metallic manipulation, Xiao Feng seized control of the incoming shell mid-flight, leaving the watching Alliance soldiers utterly dumbfounded. Who could have fathomed that this man clad in brown camouflage combat gear possessed the power to command a high-velocity artillery shell as though it were his own?

Exhaling a plume of icy vapor, Xiao Feng swiftly chilled the projectile to near freezing before gently catching it in his hand. Unhurried, he advanced toward the very armored vehicle that had fired upon him.

Pandora followed with an air of supreme confidence, trailing closely as Xiao Feng vaulted onto the foremost armored vehicle, then leapt seamlessly onto the next. One by one, they traversed the armored convoy with ease, closing in steadily on the commander's vehicle. The remaining Alliance soldiers remained rooted in place, paralyzed by awe and fear, motionless as statues.

Xiao Feng reached the command vehicle, pried open the hatch, and demanded with quiet authority, "Step outside."

The commander eyed Xiao Feng warily—this man's uncanny ability to halt a speeding shell made his power undeniable.

Flustered, the commander blurted out, "What do you want?"

A faint smile curled on Xiao Feng's lips. "What do I want? You just fired at me. What do you think I want? If you don't come out, I'll toss this shell inside." He held the cold shell aloft, ready to throw it in.

"Wait, wait! I'm coming out..." The commander scrambled to climb out, but his soldiers gripped his uniform tightly.

"Sir, don't go out there!"

"We'll fight him to the death!"

"Yes, fight to the death!"

They raised their rifles, aiming at Xiao Feng, but the commander pressed down on their barrels with firm disdain.

"Are you all mad? He's not afraid of shells, let alone your tiny bullets. Save your energy—stay put."

Reluctantly, the commander emerged from the vehicle, the soldiers standing dumbfounded behind him.

Drawing a cigarette from his pocket, the commander lit it and extended it toward Xiao Feng.

Though not fond of smoking, Xiao Feng accepted it and placed the cigarette between his lips as the commander hurriedly lit it for him.

"Do you know who I am?" Xiao Feng inquired.

The commander shook his head weakly.

"I am Xiao Feng."

Those two words struck the commander like a thunderclap. Before him stood the infamous Xiao Feng of the X Legion, marked in every dossier as a perilous adversary.

"Do you know why I haven't killed you?" Xiao Feng took a drag.

The commander shook his head again.

"I want you to continue leading this armored division."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm presenting you with two paths: join us, the X Legion, or remain loyal to your Alliance. But the outcomes are starkly different. Follow the X Legion, and perhaps you'll live longer. Continue to serve the Alliance, and I promise you'll all descend into hell."

Xiao Feng glanced at Pandora and gave a subtle nod. With a graceful smile, Pandora's right hand sprung forth a gleaming blade, cleaving through the armored vehicle's 90mm howitzer barrel with a sharp metallic snap.

The commander stared, astonished that steel could be severed so effortlessly.

"Alright," Xiao Feng said, "I'll give you the length of this cigarette to decide. When you finish, give me your answer."

The commander nodded solemnly.

Watching the armored cluster before him, Xiao Feng smiled. If the X Legion acquired such a mechanized force, it would be a tremendous boon. He was already envisioning entrusting it to Ivy—transforming her infantry division into an armored infantry corps. The thought stirred a thrill within him.

The cigarette soon burned down. The commander frowned and spoke gravely, "Very well. We shall follow the X Legion. If it were only me, I would die without betraying the Alliance. But with so many brothers relying on me, I have no choice. Besides, aligning with Bralm and Victoria Corporations isn't such a bad option either."

Xiao Feng shook his head with a knowing smile. "You're mistaken. To follow the X Legion is to follow us alone. Aligning with Bralm or Victoria will only lead you down the same path as the Alliance."

The commander appeared puzzled. "I don't understand what you mean."

Xiao Feng handed over the now chilled artillery shell. "You'll understand soon enough. Keep this shell safe—watch your fingers. Also, make sure all your armored vehicles return to base. I'll dispatch technicians to repair them swiftly. Understood?"

The commander nodded, cradling the shell with care.

Xiao Feng turned to Pandora. "Let's go."

Pandora adjusted her sunglasses, retracted the blade on her right arm, and with Xiao Feng, leapt from vehicle to vehicle, departing the scene.

The commander watched their receding forms, furrowing his brow.

"Boss! Boss! They're leaving!"

"Boss, we shouldn't fear them. If we'd attacked together, we could've taken them down!"

"Sir..."

"Enough, you fools! You don't understand a damn thing! That man will become unstoppable..." The commander sighed deeply.

...

Far away at the New City Command Center, Rice received Xiao Feng's report and swore under his breath, "Damn it, Xiao Feng and his crew—these aren't men anymore."

An aide asked, "Why are you cursing Xiao Feng, sir?"

"How much time has passed? Less than half an hour. The Giants destroyed the Alliance's air units, Stray Dog took the missile troops, Xiao Feng seized the armored forces. Now the infantry is barely a threat. Shouldn't I curse him properly?"

The aide nodded solemnly. "More than curse—these men are terrifying and twisted. Curse them with all your might."

Rice refrained from further curses and instead picked up his communicator. "Thunder Eye, Thunder Eye, after the missile troops finish their mission, proceed to Base Three. Xiao Feng has already secured it."

Thunder Eye responded promptly, "Received..."