Chapter 91: Red Spider's Bargain Hunt
"Haha! A big cat is still just a cat this will be over in a second!"
Seeing his target locked on the ground, Darts's eyes gleamed with excitement. He could almost feel his claws piercing through the armor plating of the mechanical feline, tearing its inner circuits and wiring into chaos maybe even spilling some strange fluid or machine oil. The thrill of such slaughter was intoxicating to these Predacon Transformers.
But did you really think this mechanical saber-toothed tiger was just lying there, waiting to die?
Of course not!
This mechanical tiger had ruled this area for a long time; if it were that easy to kill, it wouldn't be at the top of the food chain!
Zing! Zing! Zing!
A dense array of metallic spikes suddenly erupted from the tiger's back, shooting toward every corner of the airspace around the incoming pterosaur Transformer. The sudden counterattack startled Darts, who couldn't stop in time.
"What the ?"
Clang! Clang! Clang!
By instinct, the mechanical pterosaur didn't have time to retract his claws but managed to fold both pairs of wings before impact, using them as a shield to protect his head and chest.
A series of sharp metallic collisions echoed across the battlefield likely the sound of those steel barbs clashing against Darts's armored shell.
It seemed this mechanical saber-toothed tiger had a hidden trick: though it couldn't use powerful ranged weapons, it could eject its hardened metal quills in volleys.
Still, while those steel spikes were tough, they couldn't compare to the armor of a Transformer, and their short range weakened the force behind them. They left only shallow scratches on Darts's wings and did little else.
However, the sudden strike threw Darts off-balance, sending the great pterosaur crashing into the ground and leaving a small crater in his wake.
ROAR!
Sensing its chance, the mechanical tiger let out a triumphant roar. Seeing the massive bird struggling on the ground, it stopped fleeing and instead crept forward cautiously, opening its mouth to reveal two huge fangs.
Was this tiger really planning to flip the situation to turn hunter into prey?
"Brother, watch out!"
Muddy, who had been running toward him, shouted a warning. But Darts, still reeling from the crash, hadn't yet recovered when he felt a strong pull on his left wing something was dragging him down hard.
Indeed, the saber-toothed tiger had counterattacked. Its fangs, though not strong enough to pierce Darts's armor, clamped tightly around the wing. Refusing to let go, the beast yanked and twisted violently, trying to tear off a piece of armor to devour it whole.
This was the law of the Predacons: the strong feed on the weak. And if a lower-ranked beast managed to hunt a stronger one, it could evolve. This tiger must have gone through such transformations before hence its desperate bid to overpower its foe.
But the foolish creature didn't realize that, just as it was about to finish its hunt, a red laser sight was already fixed on its abdomen.
Yes Starscream, the third combatant, had taken aim. Even if Darts hadn't called for help, did he really need to?
BOOM!
A brilliant pink beam shot out like lightning, striking the red point dead-on the tiger's belly, its weakest spot.
Red Spider's laser cannon showed no mercy. With pinpoint precision, a burst of flame erupted from the beast's abdomen. A cascade of cables, pipes, and yellow-brown fluid likely raw oil or some form of energy splattered across the ground.
Ugh!
That hit was no joke. Though not instantly fatal, the mechanical saber-toothed tiger fell to the ground, thrashing in agony, its legs kicking wildly as if begging for mercy.
"Heh, looks like I win this round. That shot counts as my first move. My next one will blow its head clean off let's end this silly contest."
Red Spider wasn't one for sentiment. He aimed his laser pistol straight at the creature's head, ready to finish it
but just then, the system's voice echoed in his mind. Instantly, the weapon in his hand transformed from a blaster into a drill.
"Host, the item we need is located about seventeen centimeters above this creature's skull. A laser shot would completely destroy its core!"
Good thing the Transformers System had spoken up otherwise, Red Spider's attack would've been wasted. If he could extract the mechanical tiger's core and process it through the System, he could achieve a brand-new transformation state.
"Ah, I see. Then let's do this the delicate way. Kitty, this might sting a little so be brave and hold still!"
(End of Chapter)
I invite you to read my new fanfic about Fullmetal Alchemist. It's 100% my own work, I hope you like it.
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood: Under the Law of Equivalence
https://www.webnovel.com/book/34562609200143405