Chapter 506
By the time Shirley arrived with her army, a small mushroom cloud was blooming above the ocean. Moments later, a heavily damaged mecha came crashing down, slamming into the water and sending up a massive spray.
The mecha didn’t sink to the ocean floor–instead, it bobbed back to the surface like a broken cork.
If Shirley wasn’t mistaken, that mecha was Judy’s personal ride, the Madeesa. So Judy had lost this badly.
Judy and Shirley had been locked in constant competition since childhood, fighting tooth and nail. For years, they’d been evenly matched in their bitter rivalry.
Of course, when it came to strategy and breadth of vision, Shirley had always held the upper hand. Judy had always been the stronger fighter.
Originally, in this two-sided battle, Shirley could have defeated Judy through strategy alone. That was until Judy somehow managed to find Apocalypse, completely turning the tables.
Fortunately, when one door closes, another opens. The arrival of Shermaine and Joshua marked a major turning point.
With these two as her allies, their combined combat power alone was equivalent to an entire army.
Watching this unfold, Shirley couldn’t help but feel a sense of vindictive satisfaction. After all, Judy had always bullied her with brute force when they were kids. It was absolutely satisfying to watch someone finally take down that arrogant brat.
Soon after, Shirley spotted the red metallic mech gleaming in the sunlight. Shermaine descended to examine the damaged machine, and she peered inside to find it empty.
It looked like Judy had made her escape underwater–quick thinking on her part. But if Judy thought retreating to her base would keep her safe, she was sorely mistaken.
Shermaine and Joshua would track down her stronghold sooner or later.
The remaining army troops, learning of Judy’s defeat, began their retreat.
Shirley wasn’t about to let them slip away. She immediately ordered her forces to pursue and eliminate the fleeing soldiers.
Without Judy’s leadership, their morale had crumbled–they wouldn’t put up much of a fight.
Meanwhile, Shermaine deployed two clawed hooks to haul the damaged mech from the water’s surface.
The damage wasn’t too severe; with some modifications and repairs, it would be operational again. The cost of refurbishing would be significantly lower than building a new one from scratch.
That was when Shermaine noticed them in the distant sky–Shirley and her army, a vast swarm stretching across the horizon. Clearly worried about their chances, they’d doubled their troop numbers for this operation.
Shermaine and Shirley exchanged greetings as their forces converged.
By the shore, Shirley touched down from her descent. Shermaine emerged from her mecha as well.
A rapier hung at Shirley’s waist, and her golden hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, giving her a more commanding presence than Judy ever had. The two women shook hands in greeting.
“Hello, Shermaine,” Shirley said.
Shermaine nodded slightly and returned the greeting.
Shirley’s gaze shifted to the mecha fighter jet parked nearby, and astonishment flashed in her eyes. “I can hardly believe it–you actually modified a mecha, and the work is absolutely flawless.” Her praise was genuine and wholehearted. “You’re incredible.”
Shermaine’s skills were flawless in every aspect, and her combat abilities were unparalleled.
Shirley knew her limitations well enough to seek partnership rather than dominance. Someone this talented would never bow to her authority–it simply wasn’t possible. A person had to know where they stood in the world.
Shermaine smiled, seemingly unbothered by the compliment. “It really wasn’t that difficult.”
Shirley raised an eyebrow at her words. In Xyperia, being a mechanic was one of the most challenging professions imaginable.
Any mechanic capable of building a mecha fighter jet from scratch would be sought after wherever they went. Yet for Shermaine, it seemed as effortless as breathing.
And it seemed easy for Shermaine. If it weren’t, Shermaine couldn’t have transformed a scrapped mecha fighter jet into something so perfect in just half a month.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Shermaine mentioned she needed to return to the Oster Tower to find Joshua.
“Transporting that mecha will be inconvenient for you,” Shirley offered. “Let me have my soldiers help you get it back.”
“Thank you.” Shermaine provided an address.
Meanwhile, Simon lay dying with both eyes gouged out, his pleas for mercy falling on deaf ears. Joshua’s expression remained coldly impassive as he raised his weapon. One decisive shot rang out, and then the world fell silent.