HOOOOONNNNKKK!!!

A squad leader pressed his fist into the car horn.

Yet, that cloaked figure stood unwavered on the road.

"FUCK you!" That squad leader stepped onto the gas pedal.

Vrrrmmm!

The jeep shot forward towards that figure.

Like a blur, that cloaked figure lifted up a wand.

Pointing forward at the approaching jeep, the cloaked figure flicked his wand at air.

PAM!

It's as if that jeep had received an invisible uppercut blow.

In an instance, the jeep was knocked into the air. In air, that jeep slowly rotated forward.

In the slow-motion world, through the windshield, the squad leader stared at the mage with kill-intent. The mage stared back with a playful smirk.

A flash of light!

Bop!

A dagger had stopped an inch before the tip of the mage's wand.

Slam!

The A-rank soldiers had finally realized the situation. One after another, these guys jumped out of the flying jeep.

Screee...

The stream of jeeps diverged to the sides.

Soldiers quickly jumped out the sliding jeeps. In a blink, these guys had already surrounded that cloaked mage. With their weapons drawn, these guys were ready to fight on command.

PAM!

Down the road, that flying jeep crashed onto the ground and slid into the fog.

Being up close, the task force squads could finally take a better look at this daring enemy.

In this dark and foggy environment, it's impossible to see the face of this cloaked figure. Only two glowing amber-colored pupils could be seen. This mage's arm had a purplish-black color. It looked withered. The mage's wand looked like a black rod, made of an unknown material. In general, this mage gave off a dangerous and otherworldly feeling.

The mage tapped his wand forward. That floating dagger dropped down.

Pa!

The mage caught the falling dagger with his other hand. This arm looked like a normal human arm.

"Well gentlemen. What could I say." The mage said with a hoarse deep voice. "It's an honor to have the attention of you big shots?"

"Trust me. You'll regret receiving our attention." One squad leader menacingly smiled.

"People still dare to assault sanctuary squads these days?"

"Looks like we'll have to work our rusty bones a little."

"You better have a real convincing message for us."

"Make your last message count." The task force members chuckled.

The weapons in these guys' hands started to brighten up.

The mage sighed. Standing in the middle of 3 elite squads, this guy still looked rather relaxed.

"In a two million population city, there is only about 80 S-ranks. That puts you at the top 0.004% of the population."

"Being squad leaders, you should be elites even among S-ranks."

"Tsk." The squad leaders smirked.

"So you regret standing in our way now?"

"So your last words are compliments for us?"

"Do you really think we'll let you off this easy?"

In unison, the soldiers lifted their hands. In an instance, dozens of rays of lights shot towards that mage.

In the crossfire of the mana projectiles, the cloaked figure moved like a blur, leaving afterimages as he moved. Stepping front and back, leaning from time to time, it's as if this guy was doing yoga.

BOOM!

The mana projectiles exploded.

The trail of light these projectiles drew out in the air quickly disappeared.

"Compliment?" The mage scoffed. That barrage of attack couldn't even leave a scratch on this guy.

Seeing this result, the expressions on these task force members quickly turned serious.

"No no no. I am expressing my disappointment. To think elites like you would flee against a D-rank this easily." The mage raised his chin and looked around. "If you had done your jobs properly, I wouldn't even have to appear."

"You should know your duties, soldiers. Where is the girl?" The mage tapped his wand against his palm.

"It's none of your business." A squad leader took in a deep breath. Squatting down a little, this guy looked like he was ready to fight seriously now.

"We will report to the keyholder on this matter." Another squad leader stared at the mage in alert.

"Hmm..." The cloaked mage nodded. "I'm afraid I can't let you do that. Sire Atlas won't accept failure."

"Atlas sent you?" Hearing this, the squad leaders scoffed.

"He's not the commander now, is he?" One squad leader smirked. "He still thinks he can boss us around?"

"Now get out of our way."

The mage looked around at the hostile task force squads. "Will you go back and complete your mission, or no?"

"Eliminate him."

In unison, the squads dashed into this mage. Leading the charge, the three squad leaders slashed their weapons at this mage.

"Tsk." The mage tapped his wand in air.

Btttooommm!

It's as if the mage self-detonated.

A blinding light blasted through this fogged up streets. An immense fire storm flooded down the streets.

In an instance, the entire road had been covered by a layer of flames. In just one attack, this place had been turned into an infernal.

Here, red and orange flames brightened up this grey and foggy world.

The smell of burnt wood and tar quickly filled up the air.

Standing in the middle of the road, only a mage in a black cloak could be seen now.

"Utterly useless..." The mage grumbled.

Pam!

Drawing up a torrent down this burning street, that mage quickly disappeared into the fog.

A few miles down the street...

Alice sat in the cockpit of the mech. There were no complicated controls in here actually.

Sitting on a leather seat, Alice put a tiara onto her head. The girl leaned back and closed her eyes.

[Checking Identity...]

[Access Granted...]

[Establishing Neurolink...]

The cockpit entrance closed up. The magenta-colored mech raised its head and looked around.

Standing up, the mech opened and closed its hand a few times.

"Oh?" Alice's magnified whisper echoed in the factory.

"Hiiiaa?! Oh. Phew. It's me." Alice's nervous voice sounded out the mech.

The mech waved its shield around a few times. Then it aimed its rocket launcher around, making poses.

"Well, this is easier than expected." Alice murmured. "Neat."

"I also get a short sword... lasers..." The mech stood by the factory entrance for a moment.

Making loud thump sounds, the mech walked out the factory.

Yet, it stopped in the large front courtyard.

"Should I leave? Or stay..." Alice's mumbling voice sounded out the mech.

Sensing something, the mech looked in one direction.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Without further hesitation, this mech carefully walked backwards towards the factory entrance.

This attempt to be silent and sneaky failed. This 5-meters tall mech was still loud.

Leaving a pop in the air, a cloaked figure appeared before Alice's mech.

"Hmm... Hidden inside a metal shell I see..." The mage mumbled.

"Ms. Finley... If you do not mind, perhaps we could have a face-to-face chat."