The robotic security guard swiftly drew its gun and fired at the mage.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
A series of six bullets from the revolver struck the mage's mana shield. Three bullets cracked the shield, while the other three pierced through it. Unfortunately, they were only small-caliber bullets, capable of injuring but not killing like those used in rifles.
Despite the cracked shield, the mage had enough time to block the bullets with his half-transformed arm. The bullets struck his arm, but the werebear hide was tough enough to resist the low-caliber rounds, shrugging them off without harm.
Seeing that the bullets were ineffective, the security guard discarded the gun and quickly sprinted toward the werebear mage, tackling him with full force. The impact made the mage stumble backward, but with his werebear bloodline, he was able to withstand the robotic guard's assault.
The werebear mage pushed back, forcing the robotic guard to retreat, even as the paved stone ground beneath them was crushed and dragged into two straight lines.
Roar!!!
The mage roared as he fully transformed into a werebear and charged at the SD-800, which relentlessly followed its directive. The robot rushed forward once again, this time using the full power that its endoskeleton could muster.
Boom!
The two forces collided, but this time it was a draw. The synthetic skin and muscles of the SD-800 were torn apart by the immense power it exerted, exceeding what its synthetic components could endure. However, its skin and muscles were merely decorations, designed for blending in with ordinary people.
Boom! Boom!
The two traded blows, the werebear strength against the indomitable, relentless killer machine. Each resounding strike tore more of the SD-800's synthetic skin and muscles, revealing its adamantine endoskeleton, which remained undamaged, not even scratched.
Meanwhile, the robot's blows continued to injure the werebear. Each strike made the werebear flinch, and red and purple patches of trauma began to appear on his body from the extreme blunt force. Blood splattered on the crushed pavement.
At this moment, another group of mages attempted to intrude on the Astral HQ but were immediately intercepted by Hunter Killer Drones released by Nexus Prime.
Vrooom! RataRataRataRata!!
The Hunter Killer Drones, weapons of war, were armed with second-grade Atlantean steel bullets, designed to penetrate mage mana shields. These bullets were crafted from failed prototypes and repurposed for use as expendable ammunition.
The mages observing the fight quickly returned to their respective residences. Some discussed among themselves what had happened to those mages who suddenly tried to intrude upon Astral Corp HQ. Since Daniel's power and technological advancements were no secret, they all knew about them. Why would those people attempt to break into that guy's property? Isn't this essentially suicide!?
This incident became the talk of the mages' circles in New Atlantis as they speculated why it happened. Within a few hours, the most plausible theory emerged from one of the mages with werewolf blood.
Apparently, any mage with the blood of a supernatural being was enticed by a fragrance that was nearly impossible to resist—like the scent of a fruit that beckoned them to consume it. They didn't know what this fragrance represented or what kind of fruit it was, only that it seemed beneficial if they were to partake in it.
As for why only mages with a supernatural bloodline or those with implanted organs from supernatural beings were affected by the fragrance, and not full-blooded supernatural beings like vampires or werewolves, they speculated that the instincts of such beings repressed them from doing anything foolish. They knew Astral Corp had close ties with Vlad, so they didn't dare act recklessly.
On the other hand, mages with partial supernatural blood or organs were more susceptible because their survival instincts were not as strong as their full-blooded counterparts. As a result, greed and desire overpowered their survival instincts.
—
High above New Atlantis, a stunning woman with black hair stood in the sky, looking down at Astral Corp. Her long, silky black hair flowed past her hips, and her red and gold hanfu dress fluttered in the wind.
She, too, smelled the fragrance, a scent too familiar to her. It was the same fragrance as the Peach of Immortality. Of course, she had witnessed the thrashing the SD-800 had given that mage, but she didn't care. She was far stronger than that werebear mage—like heaven and earth in comparison.
She was Xi Wang Mu, the Empress of the West. She decided to investigate the matter, not out of desire for the peach, as she had plenty back in the heavenly realm, but out of curiosity as to why this fragrance, which should only exist in the heavenly realm, had appeared in the mortal realm.
She flew toward Astral Corp and slowly descended onto the rooftop in front of Daniel's house. She walked toward the house, taking in the scenery without any caution, confident that nothing in this mortal realm could harm her.
"Lady, it's not nice to intrude on other people's homes in the middle of the night." A man's voice echoed, causing her to stop in her tracks. She looked around, trying to find the source of the voice.
Cautiously, she scanned her surroundings, trying to discern where the voice had come from, but she found no one... only an iguana perched on a nearby tree in front of her. Experience tales at m v|l e'-novelhall.net
"Come out. Hiding is futile. Sooner or later, I will find you," Xi Wang Mu said in a threatening tone, still trying to locate the voice, even resorting to her spiritual sense.
"Lady... I'm right in front of you. Can't you see?" the voice spoke again.
This time, Xi Wang Mu focused her spiritual sense in the direction of the voice and found it. It was the fat yellow iguana she had noticed in the first few seconds.
"A talking... iguana?" she uttered in disbelief. The iguana was, of course, none other than Mammon, the Hell Lord disguised as a simple iguana.
"Who decided that an iguana can't talk?" Mammon retorted, munching on a cherry tomato, acting no differently than a simple iguana.