In an instant, the attack helicopter appeared in everyone's view.
"Is that the flying machine?" The Emperor wondered out loud.
"It appears so, Your Majesty." Bai Xun answered him with a nod. He was baffled by its appearance just like others.
Meanwhile, Sui Pen, the elder deployed by the Sui Clan started to shiver. "It's the same thing that injured our Grand Elder."
The Crown Prince stared at the weird-looking object.
Even though he had never witnessed it, the third prince guessed that those blades above the helicopter are the ones that might be the reason the weapon can fly.
Song Yun appeared to be unfazed by its appearance. "This is the new weapon, huh. Nevertheless, with Longwei in my hands, I'm invincible."
Mark got into the rear chamber and Allen became the pilot.
"Fly, Allen." Mark gave an order.
Soon, the rotor blades of the helicopter started to spin at a high speed. A gust of wind generated by it, spread in all the sides before it slowly flew upwards.
Song Yun took out his flying sword and he too flew higher. He was here to reclaim his honor and remove the knot in his heart to make a breakthrough. Mark didn't like it.
"Oh, boy… This man had to fly along. Can't he just stay on the ground and let me strike him with the Hellfire missile?" Mark was annoyed that his opponent stopped him from firing the most powerful missiles of the helicopter just by flying.
After all hellfire missiles have certain conditions before the launch. They cannot target an opponent who was flying in the same range as the helicopter. So, Mark ordered Allen to fly higher and reach the altitude where he can at least use air-to-air Mistral missiles.
Even if they weren't as strong as Hellfire, they could still take out a peak-stage 6-circle expert.
Song Yun also followed the suit and just flew until 100 hundred meters when the helicopter finally stopped.
"Allen, move forward and wait for my signal." Mark passed the order and grabbed the controller.
Allen flew the helicopter straight towards the opponent and Mark pressed on the button and held it.
Immediately, 12 rounds of 20mm ammo were shot from the cannon pod from the inner hardpoint.
Song Yun raised the staff. A golden barrier appeared over him. The 20mm rounds hit the barrier and bounced off without even making a scratch on the barrier.
Initially, the distance between Song Yun and the helicopter was about 150-200 meters. The helicopter managed to pick up the top speed by the time it covered half of the distance.
In that gap, Mark had wasted more than a hundred rounds of 20 mm ammo, which didn't do anything to the barrier and brought a laugh to Song Yun. He was so overconfident that he didn't bother to take advantage and prepare for an attack spell.
Instead, he tried to provoke Mark, "Is this the so-called mighty flying machine that injured the mighty Grand Elder of Sui Clan?"
It was at that moment, a big rocket that was waiting in the rocket pod flew out at its top speed.
It only took a fraction of a second for the Hydra 70 that was mixed in 20mm ammunition to reach the barrier and strike it.
*Boom*
A heavy explosion occurred as the unguided rocket collided with the barrier. However, Song Yun remained uninjured. On the other hand, a huge crack appeared on the barrier.
The helicopter passed him and ascended a few meters while turning to the few meters.
"Heh!" Song Yun's confidence grew even higher as he raised the staff and poured ether energy, repairing the barrier. "Let's see what else you are capable of."
For a few minutes, Mark continuously fired 20mm ammunition and Hydra 70 once in a while.
However, Song Yun was standing still with the golden barrier over him. Even the Emperor started to wonder whether his second son was lying that Lu Zhen was the Cerberus Slayer. If that's the case, then, he wouldn't leave either of them go unpunished.
At the same time, people like the ministers and the second prince who wanted to see the might of this weapon couldn't help but become disappointed at its below-par performance.
The Zhang Clan's representatives and the other minor noble clans' respective leaders glanced at Sui Clan's elder, wondering whether their Grand Elder was really weak or something.
Only the third prince felt something amiss. He was the only one that observed the path of the flight.
Although the helicopter appeared to be moving in circles while trying to attack Song Yun, it wasn't. It was moving in a spiral path, increasing the altitude between them slowly.
Ten minutes passed away. More than a thousand attacks hit the barrier but it was very sturdy.
"Well, I guess I have wasted enough time." Song Yun mumbled to himself. He decided to counterattack.
He raised his staff, pouring ether energy into it. A purple-colored lightning sphere is about to be formed at the tip of the staff.
Looking at it, Mark nodded, "okay, we are at 243 meters high and he's still at 100 meters. The altitude is enough.
"Allen, fire Mistral missile." He gave the order.
"Roger," Allen launched one of the two air-to-air missiles installed at outer hardpoint.
As the sizes of the unguided rocket and Mistral missile appeared to be similar, Song Yun didn't think much of it as the barrier is as powerful enough to tackle them.
*Boom*
This explosion was a bit more powerful than the last one, cracking the barrier to the point that it might break at any time.
Song Yun was stunned for a moment. However, he couldn't repair the barrier as his lightning sphere was about to form.
Little did he expect in the second, another missile, far more powerful than the last one will strike the cracked barrier, triggering an enormous explosion in the air.
The golden barrier was destroyed and Song Yun with fire burns all over his body slowly started to fall freely. His consciousness is still intact compared to the last time.
Bai Xun dashed forward and successfully caught Song Yun in the mid-air.
"Father…" Song Yue screamed as she rushed forward into the Arena.
<strong>Sometime later;</strong>
Everyone dispersed from the arena.
The third prince sighed as he realized that this incident probably pushed the Zhang Clan to the Crown Prince's side. Thankfully, the ministers were ready at the present. Under the Emperor's orders, Zhou Clan's Patriarch, who was the number one healer of the Imperial city, healed his injuries before the situation gets worse.
Lin Xue, Song Yue, and the third prince left along with the unconscious Song Yun, the second prince left until Mark and Allen got down from the helicopter and dismissed it.
Mark then thanked the second prince for his help and further said, "Four weeks later, once your proposal is accepted by the Emperor, please do visit the store. I will have a new weapon that might interest you."
Of course, Mark wanted to show off the Panzer right away but he felt that it isn't the time to introduce the weapon, yet.
"A new firearm? How powerful?" asked the second prince. While he was looking forward to seeing it, he wasn't that optimistic about the purchase because he knew for sure that they will be expensive if bought in bulk. But, if it's really powerful than a Shotgun, then, he might equip the Elites with them.
Mark let out a smile as he answered, "You can say they will give a normal civilian can wipe out a unit of soldiers lead by a captain. It is extremely useful in wars, not recommended in places with low mobility, though. For the military, there's nothing more useful than this weapon. However, you can only see the prototype after three-four weeks."
"If that's the case, then, it changes everything." If previously, the second prince just wanted to try to bring changes to his regiment, now, he was tempted by acquiring those weapons. He decided to try his best to make his new idea, a revolution.
Parting ways with the second prince, Mark, Alina, and Allen returned to the store.
The streets were empty like before with ruins all around. He let out a sigh and entered the store.
He didn't bother to open it anymore and went upstairs to take the rest.
Sitting on the bed, Mark opened the notification panel.
After taking out a few gold coins, he clicked on the upgrade.
<strong>*Ding! The system will be upgraded from level-1 to level-3. Warning: It takes 72 hours t upgrade. During this time, the system's functions will not be available except for the Familiars inventory. Proceed?</strong>
"Yes."
*Ding! The system upgrade has started.