The power of alchemical creatures varied, and when manufactured, they were assigned numbers. The smaller the number, the stronger the creature. The colossal alchemical creature before them was designated as Zero.
Once freed from its restraints, the giant alchemical creature immediately began to wreak havoc, unleashing high-voltage electricity from its muscles that expanded in all directions.
Centered on Zero, all electrical appliances within a radius of four hundred meters ceased to function after a brief operational period, rendered useless by the overwhelming current.
If appliances fared this poorly, humans were in even greater peril.
The moment the electricity coursed through them, all living beings within range were instantly cooked.
After a surge of discharge, a burnt smell permeated the city.
Fortunately, the helicopter had quickly retreated when Zero appeared, thus avoiding being affected.
From the helicopter, Blake turned to Old Man and asked, "Old Man, do you have a way to deal with it?"
"Old Man is a mage, not a warrior. This monster uses extremely compressed magic as..."
Facing Zero, Old Man stated without reservation.
"In that case, it's up to Japan's own army."
Zero's appearance, along with the crackling electricity emanating from its body, instantly made it the focus of everyone's attention.
Self-Defense Force units scattered throughout the city, engaged in eliminating alchemical creatures, rapidly converged on Zero. Fighter jets loaded with rockets sped towards it.
Zero was arguably Henger's most satisfying creation, not only for its immense destructive power but also because it embodied all of Henger's ideas, especially after he encountered and learned about what were called firearms.
Zero itself was equipped with organs designed to withstand attacks from firearms and modern technology.
"Eagle Nest, Eagle Nest, Falcon has locked onto the target. May we engage?"
As the two fighter jets approached Zero, their rocket payloads were aimed. With a single command, they could reduce it to cinders.
"This is Eagle Nest. Permission to attack granted. Permission to attack granted."
Upon receiving the attack order, the fighter jets prepared to launch the first wave of bombardment against Zero.
As for whether innocent lives would be harmed, there was no need for concern. The electrical surge unleashed by Zero upon its emergence had already ensured that no living beings remained within a five-hundred-meter radius.
This allowed the fighter jets to attack with complete confidence.
"What's happening?"
When the fighter jets were four hundred meters from Zero, and the computers had locked onto it, the pilots pressed the launch buttons, but the rockets did not fire. Not only that, but the instruments on the fighter jets began to malfunction, and alarm sirens blared incessantly.
Then, the entire aircraft became uncontrollable, plummeting straight down. It crashed to the ground, and the ensuing explosion and flames destroyed many surrounding buildings.
The other fighter jet, sensing something was wrong, attempted an emergency turn but it was too late. It too met a tragic end in a crash.
"What's going on? Is it magic?"
Watching the two fighter jets fall as if possessed, Blake, from the distant helicopter, looked on in disbelief.
"Uh oh."
The moment Blake spoke, Old Man's fingers flicked, striking Blake's bald head with force.
"Don't attribute everything to magic," Old Man said. "It's a magnetic field. This monster has altered the surrounding magnetic field with its own electricity. Any electronic equipment that gets too close to the monster will malfunction."
Despite his age, Old Man maintained an apprentice's spirit, always seeking to understand the unknown, even if he wasn't particularly interested.
The altered magnetic field around Zero was specifically designed to counter modern weaponry.
After a period of study, Henger had easily grasped modern alchemy.
Henger realized that whether it was ancient alchemy or modern science, the underlying principles were largely the same. The difference lay in the former being biologically based and powered by magical cores, while the latter was steel-based, driven by electricity, and integrated with various precision instruments.
Knowing the specific principles made countermeasures much easier. Thus, Zero was equipped with an electrostatic field capable of altering the surrounding magnetic field.
The results thus far were remarkably effective.
Not only aircraft but also ground heavy weaponry like tanks would fail once they got too close.
The only recourse was long-range artillery or missile strikes.
However, the resulting damage would be incalculable.
After all, Zero was currently in the city center. While many buildings had been severely damaged by Zero's rampage, they could still be repaired. If missiles were used to level the area, the entire city center would be annihilated, setting back Tokyo's, and indeed Japan's entire economy, by at least a decade.
But if this were not done, without the support of heavy weaponry, mere rifles would be insufficient to even scratch Zero.
"Are you really not going to intervene? If Zero continues its rampage, not only the city center but all of Tokyo will be turned upside down."
Bai Qi watched Zero, who was causing widespread destruction in the distance, and then turned to Chen Long before him.
"Do not attempt to distract me with words. Once I defeat you, all monsters, big or small, will retreat."
Chen Long was well aware of the destruction Zero was causing. The divine armor, while granting him immense power, also enhanced his senses. The sounds of destruction and cries for help reached his ears even from this distance.
Under such circumstances, Chen Long was enduring immense pressure to continue fighting Bai Qi.
Seeing Chen Long's unwavering resolve, Bai Qi was quite surprised. Shouldn't the protagonist prioritize saving the populace?
Chen Long had been like that before, but why was he acting differently today...
Witnessing this, Bai Qi decided to administer a potent dose of reality to Chen Long.
After evading another of Chen Long's attacks, Bai Qi calmly pointed to the sky in the distance and said, "Take a good look, Chen Long. See where Zero is heading."
"You can't distract me. I will absolutely not look back."
Despite his words, Chen Long still glanced sideways. What he saw in his peripheral vision startled him.
Zero, which had been destroying the city, was now pursuing a helicopter in the sky.
Although there was still some distance between them, and the helicopter was rapidly evading, given Zero's speed, it was only a matter of time before it caught up.
Bai Qi smiled slightly and said, "See? I can also tell you that Zero is surrounded by a strong magnetic field, causing all electronic instruments to malfunction within a certain range. As for who is on that helicopter, I don't need to spell it out, do I?"
Upon hearing Bai Qi's words, Chen Long, who had been radiating ferocity and preparing to fight Bai Qi to the death, immediately lost his composure.
He knew all too well who was on the helicopter. One was his closest family member, and the other was his close friend. Regardless of who it was, Chen Long could not bear to see them in danger.
Whether Bai Qi's words were true or false no longer mattered. The priority was to stop Zero from destroying the helicopter.