After his first successful mid-air snipe, Lin Qun immediately attempted a second.
This time, he stopped running entirely, choosing instead to leap around the airboat, zigzagging unpredictably while relentlessly activating his abilities.
The airboat's 20mm autocannon, though terrifyingly powerful, was mounted on its underside, designed primarily for ground sweeps. Each time Lin Qun leaped into the air, the cannon struggled to track him, giving him crucial windows of opportunity.
From the Bacatan soldiers' perspective, Lin Qun's daring leaps made him an easy target—practically a sitting duck mid-air. They raised their guns, confident they could pick him off as he approached. This assumption was why, earlier, they thought Lin Qun was recklessly charging to his death.
But their confidence quickly turned to dread.
Offense is the best defense.
Lin Qun had discovered a crucial advantage: no matter how fast the Bacatan soldiers' weapons were, they couldn't outpace his Headshot Lady ability.
The moment they raised their guns, Lin Qun's gaze locked onto their weapon arms. Before they could pull the trigger, their limbs exploded in sprays of blood, rendering them unable to fire.
Unable to deliver headshots due to the chaotic circumstances, Lin Qun focused on crippling them instead.
What they couldn't shoot, they couldn't kill.
Each leap brought Lin Qun closer to mastering his newfound tactic. Initially, his focus was entirely on dodging; his human body couldn't withstand even a single bullet. But as he grew more comfortable with the timing, he transitioned from defense to offense.
Like a spectral figure, he weaved through the air, executing mid-air snipes with relentless precision. His targets—caught off-guard by the impossible agility of their prey—succumbed to panic.
By his third leap, Lin Qun had gravely wounded two of the four Bacatan soldiers aboard the airboat. Their initial bravado crumbled as fear took hold.
"What kind of ability is this?!"
"Where is he?! Shoot him, quickly!"
"Ahhh! My leg's been blown off! He's too fast!"
"He keeps jumping! He's too agile! Too agile!"
"Run! Just run!!"
What began as a deadly pursuit had turned into a rout. The remaining Bacatan soldiers, their confidence shattered, frantically piloted the airboat away.
Lin Qun, however, wasn't about to let them escape.
"Chase them while they're down!"
Draining a stamina-restoring potion he had just redeemed, Lin Qun resumed his relentless pursuit. Their enmity was now irreconcilable. If the Bacatan soldiers escaped, they might return with reinforcements. He needed to finish them off here and now.
Meanwhile, Jiang Bin and his squad had arrived on the scene. Hearing the cacophony of gunfire and screams, they initially thought their comrades were engaged in a fierce firefight with the Bacatan. But as they drew closer, the sight that greeted them left them dumbfounded.
A man wearing a pig mask was leaping across the street like a flea on steroids. His erratic movements, defying all logic and physics, were simultaneously comical and awe-inspiring.
More shocking still, he was single-handedly chasing down the airboat that Jiang Bin's entire squad had been carefully shadowing.
"What the hell am I looking at?" Wang Desheng muttered, rubbing his eyes. "Is that… a flying Pigsy hunting a Bacatan airboat?"
"You're not mistaken," Jiang Bin replied grimly. "And he's unarmed. How is he making those Bacatan soldiers flee for their lives?"
From their vantage point, Jiang Bin's squad couldn't see the explosions erupting inside the airboat during Lin Qun's leaps. All they saw was a man bouncing through the air while the Bacatan retreated in sheer terror.
"I don't understand," Wang Desheng murmured. "Is his ability some kind of attack we can't see? Or were we wrong about these Bacatan? Are they just paper tigers?"
Jiang Bin shook his head. "The Bacatan are a battle-hardened, militarized civilization. Even their irregular forces wouldn't be weaklings. That man must be a rare talent with an extraordinary ability."
Jiang Bin's expression hardened. "We can't let him die. Move in and cover him!"
Wang Desheng added, "We could use someone like him. If we can recruit him, it'll be a huge win for the military."
The squad abandoned their stealth approach, advancing to assist Lin Qun. Jiang Bin himself manned the anti-tank cannon mounted on their vehicle.
The airboat, already crippled by Lin Qun's relentless assault, was blindsided by Jiang Bin's well-aimed shot. A massive explosion engulfed the craft, reducing it to fiery wreckage.
As Lin Qun executed one final leap, he finished off the last surviving Bacatan soldier with a precise headshot before landing smoothly on the ground.
The wreckage of the airboat now separated Lin Qun from Jiang Bin's squad. Panting heavily, Lin Qun surveyed the scene.
Four Bacatan soldiers down.
Three were killed by Lin Qun, the last obliterated by the military's cannon.
Despite expending two stamina potions during the chase, Lin Qun had earned 3 Contribution Points and 250 Experience Points. His energy level remained at 8.
Lin Qun's eyes widened in delight as he checked the regional leaderboard.
He was now ranked third.
The only people ahead of him were Xia Qing and Qi Zhichuan, whose scores were leagues above the rest.
If Lin Qun could hold his position until the midnight tally, he would earn a bonus of 10 Contribution Points, a reward far more significant than the fourth-place prize of 6 points. Four extra points meant another precious card draw.
More importantly, Lin Qun's mid-air sniping technique had proven its worth in combat. After this impromptu "training session," he had honed the skill to a practical level, significantly enhancing his survival capabilities.
As the last rays of sunlight vanished into darkness, Lin Qun wiped the sweat from his brow and looked toward the military vehicles across the wreckage. He had noticed the cannon shot that downed the airboat and knew the soldiers were observing him.
For now, the airboat's wreckage prevented either side from crossing.
A scout ran up to Jiang Bin, breathless. "Sergeant! Fifteen Bacatan soldiers are approaching from the east! They're armed with heavy weapons and vehicles!"
Jiang Bin's face darkened.
Lin Qun, overhearing the report, frowned as well. All the noise had drawn reinforcements.
Jiang Bin knew they had to retreat. Looking across the fiery wreckage, he shouted, "What's your name? How can we find you?"
Lin Qun hesitated, then smirked behind his mask. Backpedaling into the shadows, he yelled, "I'm Li Xinghe—Dragon City Imperial Residence!"
Jiang Bin watched as the masked figure disappeared, muttering, "Li Xinghe… I'll remember you."
Back at the Dragon City Imperial Residence, in Building 5, the real Li Xinghe jolted awake from a deep sleep, sneezing loudly enough to shake the walls.