Florida Man in Magus World: Unleashing Liberty and Freedom

For the dragon, one or two NATO-sized mana-piercing bullets were a minor annoyance. But thirty cyborgs, each wielding a 750-RPM (Rounds Per Minute) heavy machine gun, with backpacks packed with five hundred .50-caliber mana-piercing rounds, were an entirely different threat.

Each bullet tore through the dragon\'s once-impenetrable scales, lodging deep into its flesh, and some even pierced through its mighty legs.

"KAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHH!"

The dragon roared in agony. Never before had it experienced such searing pain and overwhelming despair. Its instincts told it to block the incoming barrage, but its proud scales, usually a match for any attack, shattered under the constant assault.

Mana shields flickered and failed as the relentless bullets shredded its wings and tore apart its limbs, forcing the great beast to crash to the ground, thrashing helplessly.

But the cyborgs showed no mercy. A squad of four advanced methodically toward the dragon\'s head, while the rest continued their suppressing fire. The torrent of bullets didn\'t stop for twenty straight seconds, cutting through the dragon\'s body like paper.

The moment their target was subdued, the cyborgs halted their barrage, leaving half of their ammunition untouched. With mechanical precision, the forward squad leaped twenty feet into the air, landing on the dragon\'s head. Their gun muzzles pressed directly onto the beast\'s forehead, aiming for the brain.

*TATATATATATATATATA*

Hundreds of mana-piercing bullets poured into the dragon\'s head, cracking through the tough outer scales. The skull, its last line of defense, trembled under the assault. The cyborgs, emotionless and unyielding, continued to fire, their heavy machine guns\' recoil no match for their mechanical strength.

The skull cracked and revealed the most vulnerable organ of the dragon. Bullets poured into the pink flesh. The dragon\'s corrosive green blood sprayed across the squad as its body writhed in its death throes, sizzling on contact with the ground.

But the mysterious silver frames of the cyborgs remained unharmed, impervious to the acid as they finished their grim task, showing no emotion, only efficiency.

The megalith dragon\'s eyes rolled back, and its massive body went still. It collapsed with a thunderous crash, sending shockwaves through the ground. The once-feared dragon, the monster Tanaka had been terrified of, crumbled effortlessly before the mysterious reinforcements.

Jiji, who had witnessed the entire battle unfold, lowered her gun, her mouth slightly agape in disbelief. She stood speechless, unable to comprehend the rapid turn of events. The dragon, so powerful moments ago, had been completely overpowered by these enigmatic soldiers.

The cyborgs, having completed their task, lowered their heavy machine guns. One of them, with glowing red eyes, turned toward Jiji and Felix and spoke in a robotic, monotone voice.

"VIP located. Clear the area."

There was no response from the others, but they acted immediately. The cyborgs scanned their surroundings with cold precision. Four of them broke away from the group and rushed over to Jiji and Felix, taking up positions as their bodyguards. Each one pointed their weapons in a different direction, standing vigilant and ready for any potential threats.

Meanwhile, the rest of the cyborgs coordinated effortlessly, moving like a well-oiled machine. Some secured the perimeter, while others combed the battlefield, gathering debris, weapons, and supplies into a single pile.

Felix, although conscious of the movement around him, couldn\'t muster the strength to open his eyes. His back and limbs were still numb from the battle. He focused on his breathing, occasionally spitting out the rainwater that dripped into his mouth. The cigar he had been smoking was long extinguished by the downpour.

Jiji, confused but curious, turned her attention to the cyborgs. She glanced at Jessica\'s system screen, silently seeking answers. Jessica noticed her inquisitive look and answered.

<They are the mercenaries Felix summoned using the emergency beacons. They\'ll withdraw from this planet in thirty minutes. You don\'t need to worry about them.>

"I see... You two really are full of surprises," Jiji muttered, impressed by the situation. She was starting to feel fortunate to have chosen Felix as her master. Still, a few doubts lingered in her mind. "But why only thirty minutes? Who are they?

Where do they come from? I\'ve never heard of anything like this before."

Jessica provided more detail, her voice calm and patient. <These soldiers work for a freelance mercenary company owned by one of Felix\'s distant relatives. They have an ancient contract with his ancestor, and they are in charge of responding to emergency calls in this star sector. The weapons, items, and even the missiles come from their patrolling battleships in orbit.

As for the time-limit, it is due to the contract and the current authority of Felix\'s class. He\'s an E-Class phoenix, so 30 minutes is the limit.>

Jiji blinked, trying to process the flood of unfamiliar terms. She simplified it in her head. "So... they\'re from the sky?"

<You could say that.>

"Well, that\'s all I needed to know!" Jiji giggled, shaking her head in amusement. She glanced at the mercenaries, still keeping an eye on their movements, before quietly retreating into the system\'s subspace. She wasn\'t entirely comfortable leaving the bodyguard duty to strangers, but she couldn\'t deny their efficiency.

Still, as curious as she was, she observed them from her safe place, studying their behavior and learning from their swift, calculated actions.

…

Thirty minutes later, the cyborgs stopped their patrol. Their movements ceased with the same eerie precision as when they had arrived. Overhead, the storm clouds parted momentarily as a sleek and mysterious space shuttle descended from the sky. The craft hovered with a quiet hum before gently landing next to the massive corpse of the megalith dragon.

Its metallic surface gleamed under the dim light of the rain, giving it an otherworldly aura.

One by one, the thirty cyborgs, still gripping their heavy machine guns, turned toward the shuttle and began boarding in an orderly fashion. Their red eyes flickered briefly, as if scanning their surroundings one last time, before they disappeared into the shuttle\'s open hatch.

The dragon\'s colossal body lay motionless, a stark contrast to the cyborgs\' swift and efficient movements. Once the last soldier had boarded, the hatch sealed with a sharp hiss. Without delay, the space shuttle lifted off, ascending smoothly into the sky. It cut through the rain and clouds like a phantom, its engines making barely a sound.

Within moments, the shuttle was gone, disappearing into the distant stars as if it had never been there. The battlefield, once filled with chaos and destruction, now felt eerily quiet. Only the remains of the fallen dragon and aftermath, left by missiles and napalm warheads, served as a reminder of the fierce battle that had just taken place.

Jiji, still watching from the subspace, blinked in awe at the sight. The entire experience felt surreal, like something out of a dream. She exhaled slowly, trying to process what she had just witnessed. For now, at least, the danger had passed.

Felix kept his eyes closed, continuing to focus on his breathing. Although the pain was slowly creeping into every inch of his body, he endured it with quiet patience, knowing that everything would eventually be fine. However, the relentless downpour had begun to take its toll. His body shivered as the cold rain soaked him to the bone, making it harder to concentrate.

The icy sensation began to overtake the numbness, a chill settling deep in his core.

Noticing her master\'s growing discomfort, Jiji wasted no time. She rushed out of the subspace and hurried to Felix\'s side. Her heart was pounding with concern. She quickly cast the purification spell again, cleansing his system of any harmful bacteria and viruses that might have entered his wounds. Her hands hovered over his forehead, feeling the cold skin beneath her fingertips.

It was cold, much colder than the morning dew on a mountain. The drastic drop in his body temperature was alarming.

Without a second thought, Jiji shed her own clothes, pressing her frame against his to share what little body heat she could offer. Her warmth was a temporary relief from the cold rain that continued to pour relentlessly. Though she knew it wasn\'t enough, she acted on instinct, trying anything to help him.

Her body trembled, not just from the chill but from the urgency of the situation. She could feel Felix\'s chest rising and falling beneath her, his breath shallow but steady. Desperate to protect him, Jiji focused her energy and summoned her water mana. With a swift motion of her hands, she manipulated the water around them, pulling it from the air and the ground.

The liquid swirled around them before forming a protective barrier.

A large dome of shimmering water enclosed them, blocking the rain and creating a makeshift shelter. Inside, the temperature stabilized, offering a brief respite from the elements. The sound of the rain hammering against the barrier was muffled, and for the first time in what felt like hours, there was a sense of calm. Jiji, still lying close to Felix, whispered softly.

"Stay with me, master. Just a little longer."

The situation looked grim, but Jiji remained calm. She had prepared herself for moments like this by conserving her mana for critical emergencies like this. With steady focus, she began casting a more powerful spell, designed to drain the coldness from a localized area.

A complex magic circle appeared, hovering just above Felix\'s chest. The circle pulsed softly, pulling away the chill in the air, siphoning moisture and cold from the dome around them.

Slowly, the atmosphere inside the barrier changed. The once biting cold gave way to a warm, almost soothing air. Felix\'s shivering subsided as the warmth seeped into his body, offering relief from the freezing rain that had previously engulfed him. The dome barrier, though still visible from the outside, now held a comforting climate within, far warmer than the stormy land beyond it.

However, Jiji wasn\'t unaffected. The powerful spell drained her mana reserves by half. Beads of sweat trickled down her forehead, and her breathing grew heavier. The strain was clear, but she endured it for Felix\'s sake. She estimated that she could only maintain the barrier for about 20 minutes before her energy would be completely depleted.

Every second counted, and she was determined to make them last.

Jessica, silently observing from the system interface, couldn\'t help but faintly smile. Jiji\'s dedication and unwavering focus had earned her respect. Inwardly, Jessica admired the lamia princess, not only for her magical prowess but also for her loyalty and commitment to Felix.

<Had Felix\'s ancestor witnessed this moment, he would have gladly hosted a grand wedding for you two. Honestly, you\'re far more fitting for him than his ex-girlfriend ever was,> Jessica teased Jiji.

Jiji\'s lips twitched into a faint, bittersweet smile. Despite the weight of her exhaustion, she remained undistracted by Jessica\'s lighthearted comment. She kept her focus on the task at hand, knowing that this wasn\'t the time for idle banter.

"…I\'m honored," she replied softly, but her mind firmly on Felix\'s recovery.

…

Twenty minutes felt like an eternity for Felix and Jiji. As the seconds ticked by, each one seemed heavier than the last. Jiji\'s water barrier slowly weakened, her mana reserves depleted. A dull headache throbbed in her temples, a clear sign of mana depletion syndrome. Yet, she remained at Felix\'s side, too focused on his condition to even keep track of time.

<It\'s enough, Jiji. Go back to the subspace. The cigar is about to activate,> Jessica\'s calm voice echoed in Jiji\'s mind.

Jiji cast a tired glance at the system screen. Her eyes were heavy with exhaustion. With a weary nod, she reluctantly agreed.

She had done everything she could, and now it was time for Felix\'s phoenix bloodline to take over. Crawling back into the system\'s subspace, she vanished from sight, her barrier dissolving with her departure. The rain immediately resumed its assault on Felix, drenching him within seconds.

But that was when the true spectacle began.

Just ten seconds after Jiji retreated into the subspace, the cigar\'s effects finally kicked in. A sudden, violent fire erupted from Felix\'s chest, as though a dormant volcano had been ignited within him. The blast of flame was so intense that its heat surpassed the earlier napalm fire that had scorched the megalith dragon.

Flames shot skyward with incredible force, as if the very fire itself sought to challenge the heavens for daring to drench Felix in rain.

At the heart of it all stood Felix, encased in a vertical tornado of fire. The fiery column soared upwards, reaching an astonishing height of 30,000 feet, piercing the stormy sky and scattering the rain clouds in its path. The downpour evaporated instantly upon contact with the searing heat, transforming into thick white smoke that quickly surrounded Felix, forming an impenetrable fog.

From afar, the scene looked otherworldly. The ground beneath Felix, once soaked and muddy, hardened from the sheer heat radiating from the firestorm. The sky cleared in a matter of moments, and the once-dark clouds that had loomed ominously over the battlefield were reduced to nothing but white mist, shrouding Felix in a cloak of blazing light.

The fire, now a symbol of his rebirth, stood defiant against the very elements that had threatened to extinguish him moments earlier.

This was not just a healing. It was a declaration. Felix\'s body, engulfed in the phoenix flames, began the process of regeneration. Bones that had been shattered reformed, muscle tissue regrew, and every wound closed as if they had never existed.