Starforce Warriors

Chapter 296: Surrounded

"Search," said Kuramaki Kazuki, waving his hand.

A Sabertooth Tiger-shaped power armor and a Giant Shield Turtle-shaped power armor, one for offense and one for defense, quickly approached the wreckage of the Weave Bird aircraft.

Hiss, hiss, hiss.

Fire-suppressing foam sprayed out from the arm-mounted jet of the Giant Shield Turtle, extinguishing the flames engulfing the wreckage of the aircraft. Once the flames were doused, ten hummingbird drones were released from the hive-like structure in its neck. The drones swiftly flew into the remains of the Weave Bird aircraft and started scanning.

The tiny hummingbird drones were no larger than a fingertip, but they clearly transmitted the interior of the wrecked aircraft, including the several charred bodies. The cabin was severely damaged. The cockpit in particular was completely deformed. Two carbonized corpses sat in the pilot's seats, suggesting they had died the moment the aircraft had been struck by the missile.

"No signs of life."

"Collect DNA from the bodies."

"Running DNA comparison..."

"The target is not among the bodies."

"Warning, the target is not on site."

The hummingbird drones quickly transmitted their results to everyone on the public communication channel.

"Not there?" Kuramaki Kazuki's expression shifted slightly.

Tan Tianwei said, "I told you he wouldn’t die. He must have escaped before we got here. Quick, spread out and search the surroundings. He can't have gone far."

Kuramaki Kazuki immediately sent out orders and dozens of combat power armors quickly scattered in all directions. At the same time, four more Giant Shield Turtle power armors released hummingbird drones from their neck hives. The drones fanned out in all directions to begin their search of the surrounding area.

Kuramaki Kazuki stood in his giant mech’s head, surveying the area.

"Twenty years ago, Tan Zhenwei was the top expert of the younger generation in the Tan family." Tan Tianwei, standing beside him, couldn't help but add, "He was once the great hope of the entire Tan family. If he hadn't been foolish enough to give up the position of family head for a woman, his achievements today would be far greater than just being the leader of a small base city. So, we must not underestimate him."

But before Tan Tianwei's voice had even faded..

Boom!

A sudden explosion erupted in the southwest. One of the Giant Shield Turtle power armors had been blown apart. At the same moment, a reconnaissance hummingbird transmitted a picture back to the main control screen. It was Tan Zhenwei. He had struck as soon as the Giant Shield Turtle power armor had spotted him.

"There he is, it's him."

"Chase him."

"Alpha tactical formation, surround him. Don’t let him escape."

A burst of orders in Jiepeng echoed through the communication channel. Dozens of quick power armors sliced through the air, emitting sharp, piercing whistles as they surged toward their target in perfect coordination.

Kuramaki Kazuki also urged his giant mech to move as he began to close in.

Boom! Boom!

A series of explosions rang out. The first two Sabertooth Tiger power armors who landed in front of Tan Zhenwei only managed to hold him off for less than ten seconds before being blown apart. They turned into dazzling flashes of fire as they exploded in mid-air.

"Suspected Five Spirits Realm combat strength." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Warning, the target's combat power exceeds estimates."

"Change tactics. Sabertooth Tiger squad, employ the Eight-Headed Serpent strike formation for close combat. Giant Shield Turtle squad, provide long-range support. Water Snake squad, set up the formation. Wasp squad, deploy the weapon array..."

"Repeat, change tactics..."

Inside the giant mech, the Jiepeng Empire's latest super battle light core quickly processed the battlefield data. It recalculated and adjusted tactics in real-time to minimize further losses. This was the advantage of the advanced battle light core. It could capture enemy weaknesses in the shortest time and provide the optimal solution.

"The once-great genius still has some fight left in him?" Kuramaki Kazuki chuckled arrogantly. "But after spending decades entangled in the mire of politics, Tan Zhenwei is no god, he’s just a man. His strength must have significantly deteriorated. Even if it hasn't, he’s nothing more than a mouse cornered by a cat against the Empire’s new combat formations. He won’t last long."

Tan Tianwei said nothing, his eyes fixed intently on the screen inside the mech’s head. On the screen, Tan Zhenwei’s clothes were torn, and blood stained his body. He seemed battered and dirty, but his strikes were sharp and fierce.

He destroyed another Sabertooth Tiger power armor with just a few punches, smashing it apart with raw force. Both the power armor and its pilot inside were reduced to shards of metal and a rain of bones and blood!

"He still has the strength of the Five Spirits Realm," Tan Tianwei muttered venomously through clenched teeth. "Killing him out here in the wilderness was the right decision. If he ever reclaimed the position of the family head, no one else would stand a chance."

"Don’t worry," Kuramaki Kazuki smiled smugly. "The Empire’s warriors don’t fear death. Soon, they’ll drain every last drop of his starforce qi."

His smile grew even wider. Nothing excited him more than the thought of taking down a genius from Great Xia. Especially this Great Xia man, who had caused him so much frustration in Liuhe Base City over the past six months. Now, at last, he could savor his revenge.

Twenty minutes later, Tan Zhenwei’s exhaustion was obvious. His punches could no longer inflict serious damage on the power armors. He was gasping for breath and his body hunched over. Surrounded by the combat formations of the power armors, he was trapped within a space barely ten meters wide. All manner of weapons were now aimed at him.

"Quick, kill him," Tan Tianwei urged.

"No rush," Kuramaki Kazuki replied. "Now is the time to savor the sweetness of victory. Killing him so quickly would be far too dull. Don’t you want to step out and mock this thorn in your side to his face?"

Tan Tianwei responded, "Villains die because they talk too much. Kill him now and avoid any unnecessary complications."

Kuramaki Kazuki laughed loudly, "Do you really think we're the villains?"

Tan Tianwei remained silent.

Kuramaki Kazuki laughed again. "Ha! Tianwei, I admire your caution. It’s a rare virtue. But I must say, you’re being overly cautious. This area is completely under our control, and even the millions of star beasts are at our command. Who could possibly stop us now?"

The two of them stepped out of the giant mecha’s head.

Looking down from above, Kuramaki Kazuki shouted, "Didn’t expect to see me again, did you, Tan?"

Tan Zhenwei’s eyes sharpened. "So, it’s you, Kuramaki. You’ve stationed troops within Great Xia’s borders and assassinated its officials. Is Jiepeng planning to declare war on Great Xia?"

Kuramaki Kazuki chuckled. "Tan Zhenwei, your death will be so quiet that it won’t cause the slightest ripple. What war is there to talk about?"

Tan Zhenwei snorted coldly.

Kuramaki Kazuki continued, "Besides, the Great Xia of today is plagued by internal and external troubles. It’s no longer the mighty superpower it was two hundred years ago, when its martial strength shook the world. Now it’s just a tempting piece of meat, and everyone wants a bite. Hahaha! So what if we declare war?"

Tan Zhenwei sneered, his eyes filled with cold fury. He turned to Tan Tianwei, his voice laced with disappointment and anger. "I never thought you would fall so low as to side with Jiepeng."

Tan Tianwei didn’t want to meet Tan Zhenwei’s gaze. He chuckled nervously as he replied, "As long as I achieve my goal, it doesn’t matter who I work with. All that matters is that you die here in the wilderness."

"All this just for the position of the family head?" Tan Zhenwei asked bitterly.