Chapter 75 Shattered to Pieces

The gunfire, the rhythmic bursts of “rat-tat-tat,” seemed much sparser than before; the team’s shots no longer came in continuous, unbroken sweeps but had shifted to the familiar and most commonly used three-shot bursts. Yet, to everyone’s delight, this less concentrated fire proved even more effective than the previous barrage. In the sky, James Sam roared in a mixture of rage and panic, his movements with the lightsaber slowing noticeably. Even when he finally managed to shape the weapon, most of its power was now directed behind him in defense, and his occasional downward strikes lacked both force and precision.

It was the first time since the battle began that the Furious Dragon Squad seized the initiative, and the pressure on them eased immediately. To Lei Dong, the next critical task was to sever the enemy’s “logistical supply line” completely, to grasp the initiative firmly. Then, regardless of where James Sam’s divine power originated or how he had undergone such bizarre transformations, he would be unable to escape inevitable defeat.

A terrifying light flickered in James Sam’s eyes, yet his furious shouts gradually faded. The white radiance surging around him suddenly churned and swelled, rotating, condensing, compressing—until a shield formed entirely of holy white light began to take shape beside him. At first, the shield was no larger than a bowl, but it swiftly expanded to over a meter in diameter, protecting his feet.

Soon, the shield continued to grow, curving as it did, becoming like a colossal eggshell or the cocoon of a giant silkworm, wrapping James Sam completely.

“Not good!” Lei Dong cried out.

Clearly, James Sam had realized that if he didn’t adjust his tactics, and the statue’s index finger was destroyed, only defeat awaited him. The only silver lining was that forming this glowing eggshell was obviously much harder and slower than forging a lightsaber, requiring far more spiritual energy. It made sense: forging a lightsaber was like pouring material through a narrow aperture, while creating a vast, sturdy, protective shield in a vulnerable position was akin to trying to spread a pancake into tank armor—a daunting task.

Thus, during the shield’s formation, James Sam no longer conjured those massive, powerful lightsabers. Instead, he fashioned light columns several meters long, swinging them downward just enough to block the incoming hail of bullets—never wasting an ounce of spiritual energy or a moment of time.

It might have seemed a strategy seeking only to avoid mistakes rather than achieve victory, a retreat from aggression, but Lei Dong understood this was a timely strategic adjustment after James Sam saw through their plan. When swift victory was out of reach, consolidating the rear and securing logistics was among the safest choices in war.

Once the shield was fully formed and the rear stabilized, James Sam would have no further worries. He would then focus his energy, forge a powerful lightsaber anew, and with overwhelming “firepower” deliver devastating blows—perhaps even wipe them out to the last man.

The squad’s exceptional speed might allow them to escape with their lives; perhaps they could even rescue Shui Yao Xian and Cao Jing Ren, the two most crucial targets. That would count as completing their basic mission. But what about the remaining hostages—more than a hundred souls? Would they be abandoned on this lonely island in the endless sea, left to fate, or subjected to the bloody massacre of this fanatical, deranged cultist before them?

No! Never!

The thought of more than 150 compatriots and innocents from around the world—elderly, infants, women, powerless to resist, unable even to cry out—lying dead under the annihilating light of that sword chilled Lei Dong to the bone and made him want to shout aloud.

In such circumstances, fleeing with only his squad would be unworthy of a cultivator pursuing the path of heaven and earth, unworthy of a warrior sworn to protect his homeland and his people, and not even befitting a man whose heart still harbored a trace of passion!

What he must do now was to muster all his wisdom, exert all his strength, to destroy this seemingly invulnerable fiend—obliterate this monster that appeared from nowhere. As for the so-called followers of the Holy Emperor, even if the Holy Emperor himself descended upon this land, Lei Dong vowed to smash him to pieces!

His gaze fixed on the nearby single-man rocket launcher, discarded earlier by Song Jin Gang. Next to the launcher lay a massive, alarming crack in the earth, evidence that Song Jin Gang had fired three rockets in rapid succession, shattering the initial simple shield, only to be met by a ferocious counterattack from James Sam.

Seizing the moment while James Sam was unable to respond, Lei Dong dashed forward in two strides to the rocket launcher.

The squad’s coordination was now flawless; Lei Dong had barely reached for the launcher when an armor-piercing rocket, whistling through the air, landed in his hands.

Lei Dong grabbed it, loaded it quickly, and braced the launcher on his shoulder. The rocket erupted with blazing flames, streaking from the tube toward James Sam in midair.

The first rocket was still airborne when Song Jin Gang tossed the second to Lei Dong.

Loading and firing, Lei Dong’s actions flowed like water—efficient, swift, yet imbued with a peculiar rhythm.

Four rockets in succession soared into the sky, exploding violently around James Sam. The shield, nearly formed and sealed, was suddenly breached—a large gap appeared. Six fiery whips from the Vulcan cannon, followed by 35mm grenades, shot through the opening, pounding the statue’s index finger behind James Sam.

James Sam roared in rage and panic, frantically swung his newly formed lightsaber, barely managing to fend off the barrage. But Lei Dong’s fifth rocket arrived right then!

James Sam’s lightsaber was fading, and seeing the rocket streaking straight for the index finger behind him, he didn’t hesitate. Twisting his gigantic, now tens-of-meters-tall body, he threw himself in front of the rocket.

With a thunderous boom, black and red smoke billowed like a celestial thunderclap. Countless pre-formed fragments flew through the air like a swarm of locusts, instantly blasting one of James Sam’s arms to pieces.

At last, the final high-explosive shell had struck true.