Chapter 41: Completely Outmatched

Chapter 41: Completely Outmatched

Two esper teams had arrived at the square in front of the military academy's administration building.

The Wild Wolf Corps and minority race espers from the headquarters were struggling to hold their ground.

Various esper abilities were unleashed continuously, clashing against each other, sending sparks flying.

The air was thick with the roars of the wolf clan and splatters of blood.

Although Jiang Yi wasn't entirely on the side of the Wild Wolf Corps, he had seen plenty of the Federation's deception and oppression towards minority races. These groups really did deserve fairer treatment.

Moreover, his lover Ke Lin was here, along with his good friend Zuo Lai and the young werewolves he had personally rescued.

He couldn't just watch as these people were killed or taken away by the esper teams.

Jiang Yi's newly acquired "Mental Domain" ability could enhance or weaken the abilities of those within its range.

After settling Ke Lin, he slipped into the fray from a concealed position.

He activated his ability, his mental energy spreading like an invisible mist, flooding the heart of the battlefield.

Zuo Lai was fighting an A-rank high-level esper and suddenly felt his own abilities grow stronger, while his opponent seemed to falter.

The others started feeling the same way.

The defenders on the Wild Wolf Corps side exchanged glances. Though they didn't understand why this was happening, it was undoubtedly a good opportunity to drive these esper operatives away.

The esper teams temporarily eased their assault. Some among them sensed it: "It's a Psychic Ability!"

Almost simultaneously, members of the second esper team broke into excited looks.

That S-rank psychic esper had finally appeared!

Despite the chaos of the battlefield, the esper teams, searching deliberately, quickly pinpointed Jiang Yi.

He had appeared later, and the other minority races seemed to be subtly protecting him.

The leader of the second esper team immediately issued an order: all members were to break off from their fights and train their sights on the tall young man with short black hair at the rear of the crowd.

At the same time, members who had been searching various buildings started trickling back. The most powerful psychic esper had been found.

Someone capable of deploying a high-level psychic ability on such a large scale was definitely their target.

Seeing some of the esper operatives halt their attacks, Zuo Lai and the others initially breathed a sigh of relief, but soon watched in alarm as they lunged toward Jiang Yi at the back.

He knew Jiang Yi was stronger than he had imagined.

But facing so many high-level espers attacking simultaneously, even the Chief wouldn't stand a chance.

Jiang Yi sensed something was wrong, but it was too late to escape.

An A-rank psychic esper used "Hypnosis" on him.

After a brief moment of dizziness, Jiang Yi shook it off and used "Mental Restraint" to pin his attacker in place.

Finding himself unable to move, the attacker showed no panic. Instead, he shouted excitedly, "Leader, it's him! His ability rank is higher than mine!"

Jiang Yi's confusion deepened. These people were after him!

There was no time to use "Telepathy" to read their intentions. After scanning the surroundings, he identified the two weakest individuals in the encircling group and suddenly unleashed "Mental Restraint" to immobilize them.

Just as Jiang Yi was about to escape through this opening, the only S-class warrior in the Esper Team sprang into action.

Qiu Xing drew a slender silver whip from his waist. His ability was "Lightning Empowerment," and through this specially crafted silver whip, he could amplify the effects of his power.

He launched himself into the air and lashed the whip toward Jiang Yi.

The whip coiled around Jiang Yi's waist, yanking him to an abrupt stop.

Turning back, Jiang Yi's gaze darkened as he activated his ability toward Qiu Xing. Since he couldn't escape, he might as well find out why. "Why are you capturing me?"

Qiu Xing blinked. "I'm also S-class, and I outrank you. You can't read my thoughts."

Jiang Yi's expression grew darker. Who *were* these people? They were among the most elite forces in the entire Federation.

Did they really come all the way to Wild Wolf Corps HQ just for him?

Seeing Jiang Yi remain silent, Qiu Xing suddenly smiled. "But I guess I can tell you. Our Director wants to see you. We might even meet frequently in the future. By the way, my name is Qiu Xing. What's yours?"

Jiang Yi ignored him. Who cared about this person's name?

However, upon hearing "Director," Jiang Yi suddenly recalled what Professor Bonasen had told him—the Federal Research Institute had been on the hunt for high-level Psychic Ability users.

They were from the Federal Research Institute!

Apparently, the Federal Research Institute was already aware of his situation.

"Is Professor Bonasen doing well?" Jiang Yi suddenly asked.

Qiu Xing scowled. "Only asking questions without answering, how rude. But since you mentioned Bainasen... you're Jiang Yi, right?"

Qiu Xing was the top operative groomed by the Federal Research Institute, the Director's most trusted and go-to weapon.

He knew about last year's challenge at Starry Vault Academy and had even inquired about it. Upon learning that the winner was only a D-class Psychic Ability user, he'd written it off.

Now it seemed clear that Bonasen must have been secretly interfering.

That old man was always opposing the Institute. If it weren't for his remaining usefulness, he would have been eliminated long ago.

Hearing Qiu Xing's response, Jiang Yi confirmed they hadn't learned about him from Professor Bonasen.

Then how did they find out? And how did they pinpoint his location?

As Jiang Yi pondered this, Ke Lin transformed into a wild wolf and charged over.

Ke Lin didn't know why these people were surrounding his master alone, but he knew if he didn't act, they'd take his master away.

For the baby's safety, staying hidden in the corner would have been the wiser choice.

But his master was the most important, taking precedence over everything else.

Ke Lin moved with incredible speed, leaping into the Esper Team's encirclement and lunging straight for Qiu Xing's neck.

Qiu Xing was forced to swiftly retract his long whip, retreating and dodging in another direction while simultaneously lashing out fiercely at the leaping wolf.

Qiu Xing's strength far surpassed Ke Lin's. Unable to evade in time, Ke Lin was struck on the front leg by the silver whip.

Qiu Xing's whip was imbued with Lightning Power. With a pained yelp, Ke Lin crashed down toward Jiang Yi.

"Ke Lin!" Jiang Yi rushed to steady Ke Lin.

Ke Lin's massive wolf body lurched but did not fall.

Where the silver whip had struck his foreleg, the fur and surface skin were scorched, giving off a faint, acrid smell.

"Ke Lin, how are you?" Jiang Yi asked, his heart aching.

Ke Lin shook his head at him, then stood firmly in front of Jiang Yi.

Qiu Xing observed the wolf and his master. "Even with backup, there's no escape for you, Jiang Yi. Come along quietly. We won't hurt you."

"Impossible," Ke Lin answered for Jiang Yi.

"A little wild wolf, yet so protective of his master," Qiu Xing glanced at Ke Lin in surprise, as if something had clicked for him, then looked at Jiang Yi. "No wonder a high-level Esper like you wound up at this wild wolf base. It's because of him."

Jiang Yi knew the odds were against them today. Zuo Lai and the others were pinned down by another Esper Team, and Tian Rui and his group had no idea when they'd be back.

He and Ke Lin absolutely couldn't defeat so many high-level Espers.

He pressed his hand against Ke Lin's chest, sending a mental message.

"Ke Lin, I'll create an opening later. You leave first and find Tian Rui and Hera."

Ke Lin was startled to find he could understand his master's thoughts. Upon hearing his master's words, he nearly cried out, 'No!' in his mind.

"Listen to me. They probably won't harm me immediately, but if you're captured too, you and the baby will be in great danger."

"No, Master..."

Watching their silent exchange, Qiu Xing suddenly revealed a fanatical gleam. "Are you sharing thoughts? Jiang Yi, you really are the one the Director has been searching for!"

Out of the Director's many descendants, a few A-level Psychic Ability users had appeared, but the abilities they awakened were all fairly mundane.

Let alone a large-scale ability like "Psychic Domain," they couldn't even achieve telepathic communication.

Yet Jiang Yi had mastered several psychic abilities simultaneously. He was practically the Director's destined successor.

It was strange. How could such a powerful descendant have gone undetected back then, even getting lost?

"Screw your Director!" Jiang Yi snarled, his psychic energy flaring violently.

"Psychic Domain" and "Mental Restraint" were activated simultaneously. Every Esper warrior found themselves trapped in place, unable to move or use their abilities.

"Go!" Jiang Yi and Ke Lin quickly ran toward the back mountain.

The massive strain had drained Jiang Yi's psychic energy. A sharp, stabbing pain burst behind his eyes, and his vision began to blur.

Ke Lin felt Jiang Yi falter, slowed his pace, lowered his head to bite Jiang Yi's collar, trying to hoist him onto his back.

A few seconds passed. Qiu Xing was the first to shake off the restraint. With a wave of his right hand, he fired off several bolts of energy simultaneously, freeing his nearby comrades from the Mental Restraint.

Qiu Xing looked at the two fleeing figures, flicked his silver whip, and muttered with a smirk, "You're not getting away."

Several Esper warriors sprang into action. Some were skilled in offense, some in restraint, others in interference.

Jiang Yi and Ke Lin were on the verge of being surrounded again.

Mustering the last of his psychic energy, Jiang Yi shoved Ke Lin away, then turned to face the oncoming Espers.

"I'll go with you, but you must not harm Ke Lin, and call off the other team as well," Jiang Yi said to Qiu Xing, knowing this S-class powerhouse led the group.

Qiu Xing clicked his tongue. "You've got a lot of demands."

"You have to agree. Otherwise, I'll fight to the death. You don't want to bring back a corpse, do you?" Jiang Yi replied.

He had to ensure Ke Lin's absolute safety after he left, so the other Esper Team had to withdraw too.

After a moment's hesitation, Qiu Xing said, "Come over here. I can agree to that."

Jiang Yi slowly walked toward Qiu Xing and the others.

"Master, don't!" Ke Lin tried to chase after him but was trapped in place by Jiang Yi's power.

Seeing Jiang Yi getting closer, Qiu Xing shot a blast of energy toward the other battlefield, nailing their team leader.

Although the two groups had met by chance, as standouts in their respective teams, the two captains knew each other.

"Qiu Xing, have you lost your mind? Why hit me?" the other team's leader, Shen Heng, shouted over.

"Cease fire! Our mission is complete. We're heading back together," Qiu Xing said.

"Your mission is done, but ours isn't!" Shen Heng's team's task was to take full control of this Wild Wolf Corps outpost.

Seeing this, Qiu Xing tapped on his communicator. A three-dimensional, shield-shaped golden emblem projected above it, its patterns complex and ornate—unique to the Federal Research Institute and representing the highest mission priority.

"The Institute actually entrusted you with that?" Shen Heng said, somewhat surprised. This highest-level emblem was only used for matters concerning the Federation's future.

Qiu Xing's team's mission had a higher priority than his own, which meant they had to yield.

Besides, they now knew the location; they could always return tomorrow.

"Everyone, stand down. Mission suspended," Shen Heng ordered.

Seeing this, Qiu Xing turned to Jiang Yi. "Good?"

Jiang Yi said nothing, taking another step toward Qiu Xing and allowing him to bind him with silver chains.

Author's Note:

As the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder.