Mutagen

It might just be a single hit, but it was already a huge thing for the warriors. This metal monstrosity killed many of their allies but had yet to receive a single attack until now. It was all because of that damn barrier they were unable to penetrate with their weapons.

But now, a bullet hit the [Mechid], causing it to stagger badly. A small dent could be seen on its front just below its lens.

Unfortunately, it was just a dent that was barely noticeable. This flimsy amount of damage just proved that it did not only have new equipment but its body was constructed far differently than the ones in the past. It had a strengthened armor capable of withstanding a bullet from Mei\'s [Shooting Moon Blade].

A regular bullet shot, in the least.

As it staggered from the hit of Mei\'s bullet, Mark took the initiative to attack further.

While putting his left arm equipped with the [Defier] in front of him, Mark charged forwards.

The [Mechid] definitely detected Mark\'s movement and intention as it retaliated despite its unstable footing. It swung its bladed left foreleg at Mark, who was already within its attack range.

However, because of its unstable footing, the attack lacked enough momentum. It was something that Mark immediately took advantage of as he caught the blade with his shield while avoiding most of the impact.

As the [Mechid\'s] blade and Mark\'s shield made contact once again, a projectile flew and wooshed right over Mark\'s head.

PANG!

Another loud sound echoed as another bullet hit the [Mechid\'s] body. It resulted in another dent on the [Mechid] and prolonged its unstable stance.

With a sneer, Mark decided to repeat what he just did, charging unto the [Mechid] and trying to catch its attack with his shield.

But, of course, given the intelligence of this [Mechid], such a strategy would not work more than twice.

As Mark tried to charge to the [Mechid] again, the boosters of the [Mechid] opened. Different from before, the boosters that appeared were facing the front of its body. The boosters glowed, and before Mark could take another step, the [Mechid] disappeared in front of him and appeared further away.

The [Mechid] was pushed by Mark and Mei to the point it was forced to retreat frantically.

While it was unclear if these alien robots could simulate emotion, it was clear that the way it evaded was a last-second action, considering how its escape was forced, leaving skid marks on the ground as it stopped. Even the tree trunks and other obstacles on the way were pushed away, bouncing off the [Mechid\'s] now activated [Kinetic Barrier].

And even though it moved away from Mark, it continued to activate its [Kinetic Barrier] as its lens stared at him. On the other hand, its body continued to glow, indicating that it was searching for the origin of the gunshots, Mei.

Mark relaxed his stance and watched the [Mechid] do its thing. He was not here to defeat this thing. He was here to bide for time.

And that time was coming near.

But then, something odd happened.

The [Mechid] just stood in place, not doing anything. It was something strange to see. A [Mechid] standing still. It kept the [Kinetic Armor] activated, ensuring that no one could attack it at its current state.

Its lens stared at Mark while releasing a vague reddish glow. The bluish glow on its body continued to pulse.

Mark stared back. One might think that it was initiating some sort of self-destruct sequence. However, he was sure that it was not the case. Everyone here was no regular person. They would realize if it was something dangerous. In the first place, a self-destructing [Mechid] would begin accumulating energy which was definitely not what this [Mechid] was doing.

And while everyone was wondering what was going on, Mark had an inkling of what was happening.

It was like how computers behave when processing large amounts of data at once. In order to process certain data faster, other processes needed to be halted for a brief moment.

In this case, the [Mechid] decided to cease its functions aside from the [Kinetic Barrier] so it could focus on processing something.

And, without a doubt, it definitely had something to do with Mark, his weird way of fighting, and Mei\'s support from the shadows.

In the first place, there was no doubt that this [Mechid] was here to specifically counter the two regarding the events with the [Spider Mechid]. But as the counter was already rendered useless, it had to make an impromptu change of tactics. Even if it did not manage to defeat Mark and Mei, which the [Mechids] saw as threats, it could at least bring back more data for the next attack.

Mark actually wanted to take advantage of this opportunity. However, to break through that [Kinetic Barrier], it would need some of his cards to be exposed. And that was not something he wanted. At least, not right now, as showing more abilities in front of the [Mechid] meant that the [Giant Mechid] would learn more things and increase the capabilities of the other [Mechids] it would create in the future to cope with the information it gathered.

The only thing they could do right now was to wait. Either wait for this [Mechid] to move or wait for something Mark planned.

And after half a minute of silence, the red lens of the [Mechid] finally moved. Its barrier deactivated, and immediately, it pointed the pair of laser weapons on its back at Mark.

The rain of laser beams began pouring at Mark.

Mark immediately kicked the ground and moved back, letting the first volley fall to the ground in front of him. But, of course, the attack did not stop with just one volley.

The [Mechid] continued to shoot at Mark, forcing him to run around the vicinity of the barrier Diwata Iraya made.

At this time, three gunshots were fired from outside the barrier. The sniper bullets, now enhanced by magical energy, flew at speeds faster than before. These bullets would likely leave a larger and deeper dent even if they did not manage to pierce through the [Mechid\'s] armor.

That was if the bullets hit.

Sensing the fast movements entering its detection range, all boosters of the [Mechid] opened, releasing a bright blue glow all over its body. Leaving only an after image, the [Mechid] disappeared from its original location, evading the enchanted sniper bullets with ease.

Everyone watched as the [Mechid] left afterimages as it moved from the other side of the barrier to the other. It moved as if hovering in the air, using all its boosters at top performance. At the same time, it did not stop firing its lasers at Mark, who was dodging the shots on the side the [Mechid] was before.

Mei did not stop shooting, moving at different locations around the barrier and attacking from those locations. Everyone saw how destructive the bullets were as they tore through the tree trunks lying inside the barrier. Even the ripples each bullet left on the barrier\'s walls were strong.

Unfortunately, none of the bullets hit the [Mechid] at all. It seemed that the [Mechid] switched modes, relying only on its sheer speed after the flaws of its [Kinetic Barrier] were exposed.

It deactivated its [Kinetic Barrier] entirely and activated all its boosters continuously. It hovered through the barrier, keeping distance from Mark, raining lasers at Mark, and evading all attacks coming from outside.

Mark smiled as he evaded the attacks. It was not easy to evade all of it while only relying on his physical abilities. However, he found it quite fun since it was as if he was playing a bullet hell type of video game. Furthermore, while Mark enjoyed those games, he was not really good at them. His reflexes could keep up, but his hand-eye coordination sucked badly.

But this time, Mark was not only evading rains of bullets, but he was evading it with his body that was way larger than a pixel-sized hitbox.

Lastly, the [Mechid\'s] current actions were in-line with Mark\'s intent. To waste time and wait for something.

And all of a sudden, Mark detected something. He could only sigh since the fun was now going to end.

The gunshots from Mei stopped, seemingly confusing the [Mechid]. But then, it saw Mark jump back. A hole appeared behind him, swallowing Mark before disappearing.

At this point, the [Mechid] lost all targets, all of a sudden. It was no surprise that it stood there trying to process what was happening. If there was no enemy present anymore, its only goal now was to break through the barrier confining it.

But when the [Mechid] was about to do so, it noticed the barrier seemed smaller. No, it was definitely smaller as many of the logs it cut during the battle were now outside it.

The [Mechid] was capable of detecting movements and temperature, but not magical energy. It did not realize that the invisible barrier surrounding the area was shrinking while fighting Mark.

It was Mark\'s intention. To take the [Mechid\'s] attention while the trap was slowly being laid out.

And then, the [Mechid] noticed the surroundings grow dark. However, its body was not designed to look up vertically, and it failed to see what was happening above it. The shrunken barrier did not help it in any way to see the sky at the right angle.

Without any other choice, the [Mechid] actually tried to lay down. But when it was about to see what was happening above, its surroundings darkened, making it unable to see anything.

The [Mechid] was trying to discern what was happening, but everyone outside could see it.

Mark, who now stood beside Spera, Mei, and Amihan, was smiling at the scene. He was currently using the [Photokinesis Mental Crysta] to deprive the [Mechid] of sight while there was a giant hole in space hovered above the barrier confining it.

"Do it."

Mark looked towards a direction hidden away from the battlefield and whispered while using the [Wind Manipulation Mental Crystal] to send his message.

There, Chimetrice could be seen, carrying a giant boulder with both hands, as large as a standard suburb bungalow. This boulder could be destructive, but it was not enough to kill the [Mechid] on its own.

But who said that they would just throw it on the [Mechid]?

Under Chimetrice, there was a huge portal. And as he heard Mark\'s voice, he threw the giant boulder into the portal.

However, no boulder appeared above the [Mechid]. Instead, Mark and the others looked up, where the boulder appeared several hundred meters high in the sky through another hole in space.

At that height and with the weight of the boulder, it began falling at tremendous speeds. It was a frightening sight to see that kind of boulder fall from the sky.

But the boulder was then caught by another portal below it, placed just a few meters away from the ground.

And then...

BOOOM!!!

The whole mountain shook, and a cloud of dust covered its entire southeastern foot. A shockwave was felt, shaking all trees and plants within a wide radius.

Those unprepared stumbled while some covered their aching ears.

Still, everyone\'s attention was now focused on the cloud of dust that hindered their sight.

"Amihan."

Mark called Amihan\'s name, and she already knew what to do.

With a wave of her hand, the cloud of dust was blown away, revealing the sight that everyone wanted to see.

The giant boulder lay inside a crater, cracked and destroyed into smaller pieces.

Under the destroyed boulder were the bits and pieces of the [Mechid], failing to do anything to avoid its destruction.

The area erupted in cheers as the formidable enemy was no more. They did not care that the cleanup would be more difficult with the black goo splattered around the crater. All they cared about was that their comrades that died were avenged beautifully.

As for Mark, he was sneering as he approached the crater and found the lens that served as the of the [Mechid].

"Now, try to find a counter for that."

Mark provoked the enemy, although he did not know whether it could still see him or if it could even understand what he was saying. As he said those words, he stepped on the lens, breaking it into the smallest pieces.