123. Dance of Lightning

The battle quickly turned into a game of keeping their distance.

Siska did not ride the Vespesaurus. She ran between the two mechanical creatures, while one Vespesaurus moved on her left and the other on her right. The three of them circled the Shantungosaurus, attacking before quickly retreating out of range of its counterattack.

“Don’t stop!” Siska shouted.

Both Vespesaurus darted forward.

Siska charged in from a different side, then struck the Shantungosaurus’s rear leg with her spear before immediately retreating.

In the distance, Rangga did not move any closer. He took position behind a mound of sand and drew his bow.

“If I get any closer, I’ll just become a target for its electricity.”

He pulled the bowstring all the way back.

“Whatever. I’ll just stay at range.”

FWOOSH!

An arrow shot through the air and struck the Shantungosaurus’s body.

The mechanical creature let out a loud mechanical hum. Electricity once again spread across its body.

“WATCH OUT!” Rangga shouted.

Siska and both Vespesaurus immediately scattered.

A bolt of electricity swept through the area between them.

Siska leaped to the side, rolled across the sand, then quickly got back to her feet. Both Vespesaurus also turned and moved away.

Rangga drew his bow again.

“Good. Focus on me if you can!”

He fired another arrow.

FWOOSH!

The arrow struck the Shantungosaurus’s neck.

The creature emitted an increasingly loud mechanical sound. Several sections of its outer armor began opening, revealing the components inside.

Siska spotted the opening.

“Now!”

Both Vespesaurus charged simultaneously from opposite sides.

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Siska ran between them, her spear already raised.

They attacked almost simultaneously.

One Vespesaurus pounced from the left while the other struck from the right. Siska thrust her spear into the exposed gap in its armor, then immediately retreated.

The Shantungosaurus swung its body, and electricity once again erupted from its surface.

“Run!”

The three of them scattered.

But this time, one of the electrical bolts changed direction mid-flight.

KRAAAK!

The electricity struck the Vespesaurus on Siska’s right.

The mechanical creature immediately jerked.

“KRZZZT—!”

Its body staggered, sparks flying from several sections of its armor. Its previously swift movements became sluggish and unsteady.

Siska immediately turned around.

“Hey! What happened to you?!”

The Vespesaurus was still trying to stand, but one of its legs was moving abnormally.

Rangga saw it from a distance as well.

“Damn! One of them got hit!”

“I can still move!” Siska shouted.

“Don’t push it!”

Siska nodded, then refocused on the battle.

“What matters is taking down the dinosaur first!”

Rangga nocked another arrow.

“Get it, Sis!”

He fired several arrows in rapid succession.

Siska and the Vespesaurus that was still healthy continued their hit-and-run attacks. They advanced whenever the Shantungosaurus lost its balance, attacked its exposed body parts, then retreated before the next wave of electricity appeared.

The battle dragged on for quite some time, but the relentless attacks eventually began draining the Shantungosaurus’s strength.

Its mechanical hum changed into a heavy, irregular sound.

“KR... ZZZ... KRRR...”

Rangga saw his opportunity.

“Sis! Its chest!”

Siska immediately understood and charged forward with both Vespesaurus.

Rangga drew his bow one last time.

“Hope this hits.”

FWOOSH!

The arrow flew straight into the gap in the Shantungosaurus’s chest.

BOOM!

The explosion slammed into the mechanical creature’s body, causing the Shantungosaurus to stagger. The electricity covering its body flickered several times before finally going out.

Its massive body collapsed onto the sand with a heavy crash.

CRASH!

Rangga lowered his bow.

“...Is it dead?”

Siska approached cautiously.

“Looks like it.”

A few seconds later, the Shantungosaurus’s body began turning into white light before disappearing from their sight.

Siska let out a sigh of relief.

“We did it.”

Rangga, however, did not answer immediately. His gaze was fixed on the Vespesaurus that had been struck by the electrical bolt earlier.

It was still standing, but its body was covered in sparks. One section of its back even looked scorched black.

Rangga immediately ran over.

“Whoa...”

He inspected the Hijack Device attached to the Vespesaurus’s body.

The device was blinking rapidly.

KZZT... KZZT...

Then—

PSSSHH.

A thin wisp of smoke came out of the device, and Rangga froze.

“...Goddammit.”

He touched the device. Its screen was completely dead.

Rangga fell silent for a moment.

“My Hijack Device...”

Siska approached.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s broken.”

Rangga stared at the device sadly.

“Looks like it got overloaded by that electrical charge.”

Siska looked at the device, then at Rangga. Rangga turned toward her with a pleading expression.

“Sis...”

Siska already knew where this conversation was going.

“What?”

“Can you replace it?”

Siska simply stared at him, and then her lips slowly formed a wide smile.

Rangga immediately became suspicious.

“Why are you grinning?”

Siska remained silent.

“Seriously, Sis. That’s my Hijack Device.”

Her smile only grew wider, and Rangga sighed.

“Don’t tell me you’re actually happy about this.”

Siska finally let out a small laugh.

“No, I’m not, Bang.”

“Liar.”

“Hehehe.”