BOOM!!

A concentrated, golden-white plasma beam erupted from their ribbed barrel forward.

What was truly unexpected was the plasma's trajectory.

Instead of hitting the dense tree in front of them, it effortlessly navigated through the obstacles, homing in on the golden-winged beast.

But the attack didn't stop there.

CR7 and the others released six more plasma attacks, one following after the other.

Suddenly, they stopped firing.

Instead, each coil emitted an intense heat as smoke emerged from around the barrels.

They had overcharged their Hileon Arc Rifles to boost the power of their last plasma attack before reloading.

BOOMMM!!!

A deafening blast, superimposed upon each shot, tore through the mist.

CR7 and the others felt their mana rapidly draining.

Within several seconds, their Hileon Arc Rifles, which had previously run out of charges, were immediately reloaded once more.

The Hileon Arc Rifles only allowed them to fire effectively within five thousand meters - five thousand four and sixty-eight yards.

Further than that would weaken the effectiveness of the shots.

They were aware that as they grew stronger, the rounds, range and power of their attacks would increase significantly.

"Reporting from Squad Seven. Task is successful," CR7 muttered, his cybernetic ears twitching slightly.

At the same time, in another location, Squad Six, composed of CR6, CR16, and CR26, took their position atop the highest tree, a distance from the golden-winged beast.

On their backs was a heavy rotary-barrel chain gun with a stiff but intimidating frame.

Squad Six was the bearer of the Storm Chain Guns' enhancements.

Although they were above the golden-winged beast, the steamy mist, along with their unique features as cybernetic beasts, masked their magical signatures, making it harder for the beast to sense them without expending considerable effort.

Suddenly, CR6's cybernetic ears twitched.

"Get ready, guys," CR6 said.

"On my mark…"

Just as the golden-winged was about to take flight, to escape the range of the steamy mist, which it could sense was limiting its perception, three golden-white beams of light shot from the forest, catching it off guard.

Before it could react, it was already too late.

BAANNGG!! BOOOMM!!

The concentrated plasma beam slammed into the golden-winged beast, sending it crashing to the ground.

The golden-winged beast roared in pain.

Three more plasma beams emerged from behind, striking the exact spot where the previous blast had landed.

BAANNGG!! BAANNGG!!

BOOOMM!!

Another three more…

The onslaught was unyielding, with a total of nine concentrated plasma beams converging on their same spot of the golden-winged beast.

Dust and rock sprang up from the earth and mingled with the steamy mist.

Despite the intensity of the attack, its fur was only scorched, with a slight reddish mark on the areas that had been struck.

"Fire!" CR6 ordered.

The Storm Chain Guns spun rapidly, unleashing a volley of ionised rounds into the golden-winged beast below.

BRRRRRT!! BRRRRRT!

"ROOARR!!

The golden-winged beast unleashed a blast of poisonous purple flames toward the direction the attacks had originated from.

BANNGG!!! BOOOMM!!

However, before its attack could land on Squad Six, they quickly moved to another location, fully prepared to counter it, as they had prepared for such an event beforehand.

They didn't stop their merciless assaults.

The golden-winged beast relented.

It could cover its body with its wings to shield itself against the fierce volleys of attacks raining down from above.

It was firmly suppressed to the ground, unable to soar back into the sky.

Suddenly, a thick, poisonous purple gas, much more potent than before, erupted from its jaws, quickly spreading out and pushing back the steamy mist.

Soon after, the volleys of plasma beams stopped.

The methodical whirl of the Storm Chain Guns slowed, only to surge back to life almost instantly, continuing their fierce rampage of fire.

A combined 720 ionised rounds hammered into the golden-winged beast before the next reload.

Ezekiel observed the scene from a distance. He nodded in approval.

They had the golden-winged beast subdued, so it was time to commence the next phase.

Felix emerged from above, hovering before Ezekiel.

Suit on!

Instantly, Felix's body shifted, from that of a four-legged, cybernetic swift-horned panther to a more humanoid frame, before liquefying like molten mercury and merging with Ezekiel's body.

Dark alloy plating encased his arms, extending to the wrists like exoskeletal gauntlets.

Boots formed with reverse-jointed thrusters, resembling Felix's hind limbs, encased his legs, with long, plasma-digigrade claws that clung to the soil like those of a predator.

Sleek reinforced metallic plating with glowing blue lines ran across his torso, forming a layered breastplate.

Deep within the chest piece pulsed a bluish core, emitting fierce electric currents that throbbed like a living heart.

A segmented cybernetic tail extended from his back, tipped with a plasma-charged blade, faint arcs of electricity crackling along its edge.

Wisps of smoke hissed out around his head as a panther-shaped helmet, visor mirroring Felix's own, locked into place.

A drill-shaped metallic horn protruded from the forehead of the helmet, condensed electrical energy sparking and crackling around it.

Glowing blue circuits pulsed faintly across the whole body of the Cybernetic Swift-Horned Panther's Full Body Armour.

All this transpired within seconds.

The visor brightened.

[ Combat Module: Full Body Armour Activated. ]

[ Cybernetic Swift-Horned Panther Armour Integrity: 100% ]

[ All Combat Modules Active. ]

[ Optical Targeting System – Targets: 1 | Threat Level: Medium ]

Ezekiel glanced at the threat assessment of the golden-winged beast, which indicated the danger level relative to Felix.

It was just as Felix had informed him.

If it had been another mid-stage Rank Two Lesser Beast capable of rivalling the Magus Class, Ezekiel wouldn't have dared conceive such a plan.

He would have eliminated the beast immediately.

Ezekiel clenched his fist and summoned two members of Squad Eight, CR8 and CR18.

Cybernetic Integration!

Instantly, the moment they flashed out of his storage ring, they transformed into liquid metal, merging with the Cybernetic Swift-Horned Panther's Full Body Armour.

Suddenly, the armour's forearms began to morph.

During training, he had tested Felix's Cybernetic Integration with the CRs units and discovered that both cybernetic beasts could fuse, with or without his involvement.

This meant he could mount members of Squad Seven or Six onto Felix, and Felix would be able to use their enhancements.

The enhancements transformed, becoming weapons capable of harming a Rank Two Lesser Beast.

The only restriction was that their capabilities were halved.

For example, the Squad Six Storm Chain Guns, which could unleash a barrage of 240 rounds, would be reduced to 120.

And the Squad Seven Hileon Arc Rifles, which could fire eight rapid plasma shots, would be cut down to 4.

Not only that, but the reload time also doubled.

The enhancements could still be used in their original state; however, for a Cybernetic Beast like Felix, it was akin to carrying straws on one's back.

Ezekiel was more than satisfied with the results.

It was even more effective than he had imagined.

Soon, a thick, heavy gauntlet formed around his hand, engraved with the insignia of a Cybernetic Sabre-Tooth Rabbit, connected to a heavy, metallic bar around his wrists.

[ Combat Modules updated. ]

[ Ecplise Gauntlet Canoon.

Function: Convert melee strikes into concussive mana kinetic blasts.

Special: Can prolong charge strikes to increase the shock radius.

Ammo: 3/3. ]

These were what fueled Ezekiel's confidence in capturing a Rank Two Lesser Beast.

At that moment, CR8 and CR18 were automatically placed into a semi-conscious state.

They could awaken if needed, but this stasis prevented the weapons from malfunctioning or causing confusion during battle, since all four of them were bound together.

From Ezekiel's spine emerged four hover-winged blades, identical in design to Felix's cybernetic wings.

Their engine thrusters roared to life, emitting a blue light from their edges.

With a deafening surge, Ezekiel flew into the skies.

The thrusters beneath his armoured feet blazed as well, propelling him even faster and enhancing his momentum.

In moments, Ezekiel hovered directly above the golden-winged beast.

Below, poisonous purple gas had already enveloped the battlefield, drowning the surroundings in a toxic haze and forcing back the steamy mist. But not a trace seeped past Ezekiel's sealed full-body helmet.

Sensing the powerful hum reverberating from above, the golden-winged beast raised its head.

Its jaws glowed as it prepared to unleash another torrent of poisonous purple flame -

BANNG!!

Ezekiel's right fist smashed into its skull first.

The golden-winged beast was hammered deeper into the crater it had made with its own body.

As though reacting to his strike, the Eclipse Gauntlet Cannon on his arm discharged a concussive kinetic blast.

It detonated against the golden-winged beast's skull immediately after his punch, amplifying the devastation.

BAANNGG!!

A shockwave erupted, scattering the purple gas and shaking the ground.

The crater grew even wider.

The golden-winged beast's eyes glazed, dazed, and were unfocused.

But before it could regain composure, Ezekiel unleashed a furious barrage of punches upon its head.

Each strike tore through the air, stirring violent winds.

Shockwaves rippled outward, scattering the purple gas and the steamy mist.

The golden-winged beast groaned painfully.

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