A dazzling flame pierced the night sky, illuminating half the city. The Hummer's windshield became brightly lit.
Several shells shot toward the prison wall, trailing crimson flames as they streaked over the Hummer convoy. With deafening explosions, countless more shells rained down on the prison. The city was bathed in the shimmering firelight, and the streets fell into chaos. Confused citizens screamed and scattered.
The Hummer convoy screeched to a halt in the middle of the street. The female officer ordered Xu Shixiong to stay in the car. She hurriedly got out and looked up at the barrage of shells pouring down like a waterfall.
Massive walls were being bombarded repeatedly. The radio inside the Hummer crackled with voices in various languages, as the 177th Army struggled to respond to the surprise attack.
"This is Colonel Bai Li. What's going on?!" the female officer demanded through her military radio.
Citizens screamed and fled the streets. The piercing sound of air-raid sirens echoed through the city, but no one knew what was happening.
"The prison is under attack by armed forces!" someone finally responded over the radio.
"A few shells alone can't possibly breach the prison," Bai Li said, her voice calming slightly. Overhead, armed helicopters soared toward the source of the attack, their rotor blades roaring as they passed.
"Not necessarily," Xu Shixiong remarked, staring at the nearby prison.
No sooner had he spoken than layers of the prison's exterior began crumbling. The piercing air-raid sirens grew louder from within the prison as more fighter jets soared into the sky, heading straight for the prison, their payloads loaded with Javelin missiles.
Xu Shixiong got out of the car, stunned, as he watched the prison crumble like a breached dam. A crack spread across the walls, and then they collapsed with a deafening roar. Dust and smoke billowed outward, sweeping toward Kyoto City.
The prison walls had fallen.
Thick clouds of dust rolled through the air. When the dust finally settled, Bai Li stared in disbelief at the prison.
A massive breach gaped in the prison's walls. From within came deep, guttural growls.
Thud. Thud. It felt like a minor earthquake as a massive figure emerged from the wreckage. Xu Shixiong's wish was granted—he had finally seen a giant with his own eyes.
A wave of stench surged forward, overwhelming the area.
"Roar!!" More giants emerged from the rubble, grabbing low-flying helicopters and twisting them apart. Explosions erupted in their massive hands, but the giants seemed to celebrate their rebirth, smashing the remains of the prison walls.
One giant lifted a massive chunk of debris and hurled it toward Kyoto.
"Run! Why are you just standing there?!" Xu Shixiong grabbed Bai Li by the hand and pulled her away. The boulder crashed into the city, striking a building, which crumbled instantly. The collapsing debris buried the Hummer convoy and countless fleeing civilians.
Xu Shixiong dragged Bai Li into a nearby subway entrance. The station was already packed with panicked crowds, and police officers in black uniforms struggled to maintain order.
Bai Li, regaining her composure, yanked her hand away. "Let go of me! I need to return to command the army."
"Lady, forget about the army! Even the entire Self-Defense Force couldn't control this situation. If you want to throw your life away, I won't stop you. But I'm leaving!" Xu Shixiong turned to run.
"You're not going anywhere." Bai Li pulled out her military ID and held it in front of Xu Shixiong. "By the authority of the 177th Army, I'm requisitioning you as a reserve soldier. I order you to escort me back to the prison!"
"I'm just an engineer. I'm not risking my life for this!" While Bai Li was distracted, Xu Shixiong slipped into the crowd, blending in with the fleeing masses. Bai Li tried to stop him but failed.
"Coward!" she yelled after him, furious.
The crowd scattered, and Bai Li lost sight of Xu Shixiong.
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