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\u201cRUN!\u201d the cop yelled.<\/p>\n
Quick as a flash, the winged tiger pounced on the policeman, pinning him to the ground. The cop screamed, struggling under its enormous bulk. Sun raised his pistol. And the beast tore out his throat.<\/p>\n
Sun fired.<\/p>\n
A brilliant blue bolt slammed into the creature\u2019s torso. Fire and smoke erupted from its fur.<\/p>\n
Roaring in pain, the tiger spread its wings, covering its face and body. Sun ran the gun hard, dumping bolts as fast as he could fire. The power crystal siphoned his\u00a0qi<\/em>\u00a0through his gloves, keeping the gun going.<\/p>\n But as the bolts crashed into the wings, they dissipated.<\/p>\n Turning to Sun, the winged tiger crouched.<\/p>\n Leaped.<\/p>\n And slammed into a crackling white wall.<\/p>\n Dropping to the ground, it shook his head, momentarily confused. It was so close, Sun saw the blood dripping from his teeth and paws, the meat caught between its canines.<\/p>\n Liu stood her ground, her feet planted solidly on the floor. Her arms were extended straight out, her bangles glowing white. The creature snarled, pawing at the barrier, but she stood firm and maintained the force field.<\/p>\n Guns howled. A barrage of bolts crashed into the beast\u2019s flank. Distracted, it turned to face the new threat, and Sun retreated behind a nearby pillar. A team of armed police had arrived, firing from across the hall. But the bolts crashed uselessly against the beast\u2019s wings.<\/p>\n The winged tiger poked its head out between its wings, turning to the cops. And its horn\u00a0glowed<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cTAKE COVER!\u201d Sun shouted.<\/p>\n A beam of blinding light blasted from the horn.<\/p>\n Liu screamed, throwing her will against the world.<\/p>\n The beam crashed against a fresh barrier. The barrier took everything the winged tiger could throw at it and scattered the infernal energy into harmless rays of multihued light.<\/p>\n The assault ceased. The cops were unscratched. But Liu swooned.<\/p>\n \u201cFang Fang!\u201d<\/p>\n She caught herself before she fell.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m okay,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n The tiger chuffed. The policemen continued firing, but none of their shots penetrated its wings.<\/p>\n Stalemate.<\/p>\n But Sun was a cultivator.<\/p>\n Switching his smoking pistol to his left hand, he called upon his interspatial ring. Another wormhole opened. He reached in, found a firm handle, and drew.<\/p>\n Out came a\u00a0jian<\/em>. A straight sword with two keen edges and a needle tip. Holding it low, he circled around the beast.<\/p>\n \u201cCover me!\u201d Sun shouted.<\/p>\n \u201cGo!\u201d Liu replied.<\/p>\n Summoning his\u00a0qi<\/em>\u00a0from all three\u00a0dantian<\/em>, he supercharged his muscles. Filled his blade with\u00a0qi<\/em>.<\/p>\n Lunged.<\/p>\n Gravity fell away. The air parted before him. Wind pushed at his back. In a single bound, he flew to the beast\u2019s flank. And cut.<\/p>\n Steel bit into hardened bone and sinewy muscle. A moment of resistance, and the wing snapped off.<\/p>\n Howling, the creature trashed about. Another barrier materialized, shielding Sun from its iron teeth and claws. Leaping aside, Sun extended his pistol, placed it against the beast\u2019s exposed temple, and fired.<\/p>\n Its head erupted in pink steam. The winged tiger slumped to the ground, finally dead.<\/p>\n Scanning, Sun saw no more threats. He flicked the blood off his\u00a0jian<\/em>\u00a0and returned to Liu.<\/p>\n She had propped herself against a pillar, her hands massaging her temples.<\/p>\n \u201cSun Yao\u2026\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s over.\u201d<\/p>\n She smiled. \u201cGood job.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCouldn\u2019t have done it without you. Thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re welcome. I\u2026\u201d She frowned, pointing at the skylight. \u201cWhere\u2019s the barrier? It should be up by now.\u201d<\/p>\n He looked. Through the broken glass he saw clear blue sky and bright sunlight. But there was no barrier. The civil defense sirens continued screaming. And, high in the sky, he saw black dots. Lots of them.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to get to the operations center,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n He nodded. Turning to the cops, he yelled, \u201cCover the skylight! We have more beasts incoming!\u201d<\/p>\n As the policemen scrambled into position, he pointed at the nearest.<\/p>\n \u201cYou! Take us to the operations center!\u201d<\/p>\n The three of them trooped down empty halls and deserted corridors. The civilians had evacuated by now. He sensed no\u00a0qi<\/em>\u00a0around him beyond Liu and the policeman. But just in case, Sun kept his head on a swivel and his weapon at the ready.<\/p>\n The door to the operations center was wide open. The lock had been blasted open. And blood spilled out the open door.<\/p>\n \u201cTa ma de<\/em>,\u201d Sun whispered. \u201cFang Fang, stay behind me.\u201d<\/p>\n He sensed no qi. Only death. Taking a deep breath, he stepped in.<\/p>\n \u201cLao tian ah!<\/em>\u201d the cop exclaimed.\u00a0By Heaven!<\/em><\/p>\n Bodies. Bodies everywhere. Seated, lying down, slumped against the walls. A lake of blood covered the floor.<\/p>\n Sun inspected a corpse. Her throat had been cut, almost decapitating her. Another one had been blasted in the chest. A third had been slashed in half. He couldn\u2019t tell if the wounds were made by man or beast. Or both.<\/p>\n Liu pointed at a door. \u201cWe need to check the barrier control room.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight.\u201d Looking at the cop, Sun said, \u201cWatch this room. Preserve the crime scene.\u201d<\/p>\n Liu and Sun stepped around the bodies, careful to avoid disturbing anything they saw. The door to the barrier control room was unlocked. As Sun grasped the doorknob the door fell off its hinges.<\/p>\n \u201cNot a good sign,\u201d Sun said.<\/p>\n The barrier control room stretched out before them. Rows of computers and consoles glowed by the sides of the room. Dead ahead was a transparent panel of safety glass. Behind that was the enormous crystal that powered the airport\u2019s barrier.<\/p>\n The crystal was dull.<\/p>\n And the room was empty.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere did everyone go?\u201d Liu asked. \u201cThis is an emergency. There must be a Barrier Technician manning the room at all times.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe they\u2019re dead,\u201d Sun said.<\/p>\n \u201cZao gao<\/em>,\u201d she said.\u00a0This is terrible.<\/em>\u00a0\u201cWe need to get the barrier online before the beasts attack again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnything I can do?\u201d Sun asked.<\/p>\n She strode to a console. And heaved a sigh of relief. \u201cThis console is unlocked. I can raise the airport barrier from here. Just watch the door and make sure the beasts don\u2019t come in.\u201d<\/p>\n As she spoke, her fingers flew across the keys.\u00a0Heavy footsteps reverberated outside. Voices floated into the room.<\/p>\n \u201cDefenders! Over here!\u201d<\/p>\n Sun opened his ring, stowed his weapons, and drew his badge. Stepping away from the door, he kept his hands low.<\/p>\n A pair of armed men burst into the room, long guns ready.<\/p>\n \u201cDefenders!\u201d the leader shouted. \u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n Sun raised his badge. \u201cDefender Class One Sun Yao. She\u2019s Barrier Technician Liu Fang Fang.\u201d<\/p>\n The senior Defender squinted at the badge. Nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI heard a Defender slew the winged tiger in the lobby. Was that you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Sun Yao said.<\/p>\n \u201cNot bad. Ms Liu, what are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBringing the barrier back online,\u201d she replied.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re authorized to do that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m the only Barrier Technician available,\u201d she replied.<\/p>\n \u201cI see.\u201d Looking at Sun, he said, \u201cYou\u2026 Sun Yao. You were supposed to report for duty today, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. This whole mess started right after I stepped off the airship.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHell of a first day at work, isn\u2019t it?\u201d Shaking his head, he said, \u201cI\u2019m Fu Hai Long. This is Yang Guo An. And that\u2019s all the introductions you\u2019re going to get. The city is in a state of emergency. Beasts are everywhere, and we need every Defender on duty.\u201d<\/p>\n Sun nodded. \u201cI\u2019m ready. Fang Fang\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI understand,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll meet you when I can.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPromise?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPromise.\u201d<\/p>\n You can find the previous chapter\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n![\"Cheah](\"https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/DQmNPjQAkaGvtrys87bjqAghP62AqHAB7edWEt44bH8yfwD\/Cheah%20Git%20San%20Red.jpg\")
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