Reboot: Mechanic

The domino effect caused by the stone's impact on the soldier's energy shield created chaos among the elite soldiers. They stumbled and fell like a row of toppled dominos, their formation shattered.

Amidst this disarray, Shi Tian seized the opportunity to strike ahead. 

With the leader briefly distracted by the unexpected turn of events, Shi Tian took his shot. The pistol barked, and an Esper special bullet streaked through the chaos, finding its mark.

The leader's energy shield, still partially raised from the stone's impact, was not enough to protect him. The bullet struck home, and the leader cried out in pain as the energy shield crackled and failed.

The bullet directly pierced through his right eye, shattering the goggles and his eyes completely as it passed through to the other soldier behind. 

However, compared to their leader's injury, the other soldier got lucky and the bullet only grazed through his shoulder.

The leader's right eye was now gone and bleeding profusely. 

His expressions were filled with rage as he roared angrily, "Shoot that bastard down! I want him dead!" 

Despite the leader's furious command, chaos and disarray still reigned among the elite soldiers. Shi Tian's swift and precise actions had left them in a state of shock, and their disciplined formation had crumbled.

As the leader clutched his ruined eye, blood streaming down his face, the soldiers hesitated. 

They were wary of other tactics that Shi Tian had in his inventory. 

Take the stone for example. They thought it was a mere piece of debris from the explosion earlier, yet the weight of it had caused them to drop like flies.

Seeing how cautious the soldiers were, Shi Tian pretended to hold another similar stone in his hand. 

This time, the stone was the debris from the explosion caused by the Claymore Mine and not the Metallic Stone that he had thrown at them.

The Metallic Stone was indeed a fascinating item that even the elite soldiers were unable to adjust to the effect and deflect the throw. 

Smiling coldly, Shi Tian knew he couldn't kill any of the soldiers, even if he wanted to. He might be acting tough on the surface, but the bullet injuries were putting a strain on his body and movement. 

"This is merely a warning from the White Syndicate. Tell your stupid Theobold commander to not mess with the White Syndicate operation. Otherwise, the next time, it won't just be a few deaths." Shi Tian exclaimed, throwing another stone at them, causing the soldiers to quickly activate their energy shield in panic.

And unlike earlier, they were holding their energy shield tightly, not daring to underestimate its strength. 

Seeing their reaction, Shi Tian seized upon this opportunity.

He hurriedly activated his boosters' suit and grabbed the Metallic Stone that was thrown at them earlier before retreating in a hurry. 

The Metallic Stone was a precious item, so if he left that on the scene, then it wouldn't be long till the elite soldiers figured out the real identity of the attacker.

He had purposely thrown the name White Syndicate to let the soldiers believe they were the attacker. The White Syndicate was a group of criminals anyway, so adding another crime to their head wouldn't change much.

As Shi Tian quickly exited the scene, the leader, who finally regained his consciousness after using some healing item cursed at his incompetent soldiers.

"You bunch of fools! Why aren't any of you chasing after the attacker?" The leader shouted in fury. He can't believe his platoon of elite soldiers would be so frightened by a damn stone.

The leader's furious shouts echoed through the clearing as his soldiers, still reeling from the unexpected assault, struggled to regain their composure. 

Shi Tian's tactics had not only inflicted physical damage but had also sown doubt and fear among the elite soldiers.

Despite their advanced technology and training, they had been caught off guard by an enemy who had used unconventional methods to disrupt their formation and incapacitate their commander. It was a humbling experience for Theobold's elite soldiers.

As the leader continued to berate his men, some of the soldiers exchanged uneasy glances. 

They had heard of the White Syndicate, a notorious group of criminals known for their ruthlessness. If the White Syndicate was behind this attack, it meant they were dealing with a dangerous adversary. 

After all, the White Syndicate's deeds in these past years were by any means small. Multiple other cities also struggled to suppress the White Syndicate, let alone catch one significant member of the group. 

However, the fear of the White Syndicate was overshadowed by the leader's anger. 

They couldn't afford to incur his wrath any further. With reluctant determination, a few soldiers broke away from the group and began to cautiously pursue the direction in which Shi Tian had retreated.

Their leader, still clutching his bleeding eye, watched them go. His rage had not subsided, but he knew that chasing after the elusive attacker in his current condition would be futile. They needed to regroup, tend to their wounded, and report the incident to their superiors.

As the soldiers disappeared into the distance, the leader took a moment to collect himself. Although he suspected the attacker could be using the White Syndicate name as an excuse to avoid exposing their identity, he didn't dare to nullify the possibility of it being true.

After all, even he had heard of the infamy of the White Syndicate and their means of attack. If the attacker earlier were truly part of the White Syndicate, then it would make sense why they suffered such heavy casualties. 

And he knew that the White Syndicate's warning couldn't be ignored. They had shown that they were willing to take bold and unconventional actions.

"I can only report to Commander Theobold that the mission is a failure. And the people we are tracking might have already encountered the White Syndicate group." The leader clicked his tongue and clenched his fist in frustration. 

This humiliation– he would never forget about it.