The alarm rang in their ears, and Sereni trembled suddenly.
She turned and rushed out of the hangar, only to see a convoy speeding in from the distance. The uniform paint and distinctive markings caught Sereni's and Clarice's eyes, and they both shook with realization.
"It's the Air Patrol!" Sereni yelled.
"Damn it!" Clarice cursed.
Then she turned and rushed into the hangar. When she came out, she was carrying an aircraft cannon.
The fifty-kilogram aircraft cannon looked like a toy in Clarice's hands, with thick ammunition belts hanging from her body, trailing all the way to a spacecraft behind her.
"Die!" Clarice screamed wildly as she fired the aircraft cannon. A huge tongue of fire spewed out, weaving a long chain of bullets in the sky, blasting towards the oncoming convoy.
At that moment, Clarice's muscles bulged on her arms, unleashing wild and monstrous strength, nothing like the gentle woman she appeared to be earlier, clearly a savage and violent woman.
The approaching convoy clearly hadn't expected such a sudden attack.
The leading vehicle was hit first, torn to shreds in the terrifying barrage, exploding into a huge fireball.
The remaining patrol vehicles scattered in all directions, and some patrol officers wearing jetpacks flew out of the vehicles, only to be torn to pieces by the barrage as soon as they entered the air. Clarice's attack was ruthless and merciless, without any restraint.
Meanwhile, Sereni headed towards the transport vehicle.
She got into the car, didn't even say a word of goodbye, and drove away. Clarice only glanced at her before continuing to sweep wildly at the patrol, obviously determined to cover Sereni's retreat.
But as Sereni's car lifted off, a laser beam shot from the sky and hit the car, piercing through the engine. The transport vehicle instantly stalled and plummeted to the ground.
As the car was about to overturn, Sereni slapped the car body and actually jumped out.
She rolled in the air like a nimble fish, landing gracefully on the ground, kneeling on one knee in a graceful and relaxed posture.
The transport car crashed down, smashing countless pieces.
A piece of iron flew towards Sereni, and she effortlessly caught it between her fingertips.
Then she threw it towards the left front, saying, "Come out!"
The iron piece swirled with electric light and struck, followed by a muffled groan from the shadows.
A spray of blood burst out, and Nora's figure emerged from the darkness.
"You!" Nora looked at Sereni in surprise, a piece of iron thrown by Sereni stuck in her shoulder, the remaining electric light paralyzed her whole body.
"Surprised?" Sereni smiled. "Don't think you're the only ones with special abilities!"
With that, she took off her windbreaker, revealing a dark green combat suit underneath.
Reaching behind her combat suit with her left hand, she pulled out a shuriken and threw it at Nora. "I thought we could be friends, but unfortunately..."
The shuriken flew towards Nora with electric light, surprising Nora, who instinctively ducked.
After passing over Nora's head, the shuriken spun in a circle and eerily flew back. Nora realized it was bad and could only turn her head, but the shuriken stopped in front of her face!
Sereni was also stunned for a moment.
Then she realized what was happening and screamed, "Jonny Reno!"
A figure emerged from behind the building, and it was Reno.
"Reno." Clarice was also stunned.
A patrol officer took the opportunity to shoot at Clarice, and the laser hit Clarice's shoulder, opening a hole in her arm.
"Ah!" Clarice exclaimed.
The gun-wielding hand twisted, but the next moment she raised the gun again, and a barrage of bullets poured out, pressing the patrol down, as if the injury to her didn't exist.
The sky was filled with chains of bullets, bullets and lasers flying everywhere, creating a spectacular scene.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the hangar, Reno faced off against Sereni.
He looked at Clarice with complex eyes, then turned to Sereni. "I thought you were another special agent organization, Intelligence Bureau, Patrol Bureau, Security Bureau, or whatever. It seems like I've become the darling of all the spies recently. But now it seems I was wrong. Can I ask who you really are?"
Sereni chuckled. "If your questioning was a bit gentler, maybe I would answer you, but calling the Patrol wasn't exactly a sincere gesture."
Reno shrugged. "Can't blame me for that. You guys came in hiding."
"But at least we didn't harm you!" Sereni exclaimed angrily.
"I admit that. If manipulating us into being your pawns doesn't count as harming us... following your orders until the debt is paid? It's a clever plan to control all of us without a fuss, and hiding your identities. Is that your purpose?" Reno asked curiously, but then shook his head. "No, at least not initially. Who are you, and why approach me?"
"If you tell me how you discovered Clarice's problem, I might tell you the answer," Sereni replied. "Clarice used to be an actress, her acting skills have always been excellent, and before you, there hasn't been anyone she couldn't deceive."
Reno chuckled. "Her acting is indeed good, but the problem is you lack a good scriptwriter. Climbing walls risking life and limb just to catch a glimpse of her husband's escort ship... creative, but illogical."
Clarice was astonished. "You noticed the problem from the beginning?"
Reno shrugged. "Just suspicions. But where there's a start, there's a follow-up..."
Sereni's face twisted. "I wrote this script, damn it! I gave you a chance to be a hero, and you're questioning its lack of logic! You don't understand romance at all!"
"I only understand survival," Reno replied. "So now it's your turn to answer me. Who are you people, and why approach me?"
Sereni chuckled. "I remember I said maybe I'll tell you, right? Your answer dissatisfied me, so I've decided... not to tell you!"
She abruptly turned and ran forward.
Reno's expression changed, and he gestured towards Sereni, trying to control her.
Suddenly, a large burst of electricity emanated from Sereni's body.
The electricity surged, and Reno found himself unable to control her. Sereni dashed into a shuttle in the distance like a lightning bolt.
Sereni laughed, "Jonny Reno, you win today, but I'll win back in the future. Besides, I'm curious to see how you plan to leave this planet after offending me!"
The shuttle streaked through the sky, flying into the distance.
"I didn't say you could leave," Reno said lowly, gesturing forward, and the shuttle stopped in mid-air.
But at that moment, Clarice suddenly turned around, aiming her gun at Reno. Reno was shocked and hurriedly ran behind cover, a barrage of gunfire hitting the ground where he had been standing, raising clouds of smoke.
The shuttle surged upward.
"Austin!" Reno shouted from behind the wall. "She abandoned you, yet you're still working for her."
Clarice replied loudly, "It's my duty!"
"You're not a soldier, what duty?" Reno was furious.
"I am..." Clarice didn't finish her sentence, a laser beam pierced through her body.
Clarice spat out a mouthful of blood, collapsing to the ground, the machine gun slipping from her hand, ceasing its roar.
"Austin!" Reno yelled as he rushed out.
A patrol officer was about to shoot at him when Nora shot him in the head.
Reno took the opportunity to rush over, grabbing Clarice and dragging her into the hangar. Blood flowed from Clarice's body, forming a long bloodline.
Reno held Clarice and rushed into the hangar. He hugged Clarice and called softly, "Austin!"
Clarice opened her eyes and looked at Reno.
A faint smile appeared on her face. "I'm sorry I lied to you, Jonny."
"Don't talk!" Reno tried frantically to stop Clarice's bleeding, but couldn't. The laser burned a large hole in Clarice's body, almost hollowing her out. It was a miracle she didn't die immediately.
Clarice shook her head. "I know I'm done for, Reno... listen to me, although we lied to you, we meant no harm. We just wanted to find the artifact."
"The artifact?" Reno's hand paused.
"Yes, the Zero Target brought back by the Abrodean. Its real name is the artifact." Clarice said laboriously, "We wanted to get it, so I approached you, trying to locate the artifact by collecting the radiation sources on your body. But we didn't expect that you... "
She began to cough up blood, unable to continue.
"Austin, hold on!" Reno called out.
But Clarice's voice gradually faded away.
She grasped Reno, trying hard to say, "This is... a different... change... we've always been pursuing... there must be a reason for all of this... only you know... the reason..."
As she spoke, her voice gradually faded.
Finally, she was motionless.
"Clarice!" Reno shouted, he finally didn't call her Miss Austin.
But Clarice wouldn't respond to him anymore.
Her eyes dissipated, one hand gradually loosened, and finally drooped weakly.