Mechanic Demon's mechanical legs shook even harder.
He'd seen Monarch-level powerhouses before. High-ranking existences. But a Root-level? Never.
Monsters like this only existed in legends.
"No... impossible..."
His mechanical right eye was fried, but his left eye still worked. That giant head stared down at him.
No killing intent in those eyes.
Just... curiosity?
Xiao Xiao tilted its head.
"You—the boss—of that food?"
Mechanic Demon blinked.
Food?
What food?
Then he saw it.
Behind the giant head, in the shadows at the edge of the junkyard, Hunter parts were getting scooped up by tentacles. Stuffed into that massive mouth.
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
His men. All twenty of them.
Gone.
Mechanic Demon's mind went blank.
Jax got up. Brushed the dust off.
Walked over to Xiao Xiao.
"How'd you get here?"
Xiao Xiao blinked.
"You wrote—said feast—so I came—"
Jax stared.
He *had* mentioned a "feast" in the letter. Meant the Demon Heavy pursuers.
But...
He glanced at the chewed-up Hunter parts.
Well. Close enough.
Mechanic Demon finally snapped out of it.
Turned. Ran.
Fast. Really fast. One second he was there, next second a hundred meters away.
Xiao Xiao watched him go.
"He runs fast—"
Jax drew his revolver.
"You catch him?"
Xiao Xiao thought.
"Can—but effort—"
Jax holstered it.
"Forget it. Let him deliver a message."
Xiao Xiao blinked.
"Not kill?"
Jax shook his head.
"Kill him, they send someone worse."
Xiao Xiao nodded. Didn't really get it.
"Oh—"
Took another bite of Hunter part.
Crunchy.
---
Old Joe walked over. Stared at the giant head.
"Kid. What the hell is that?"
Jax glanced at him.
"Patient."
Old Joe's eyes went wide.
"Patient?"
Jax nodded.
"Toothache. Fixed it."
Old Joe was quiet.
Looked at the giant head. Looked back at Jax.
Slapped his shoulder.
"Alright. You're something else."
---
The mechanical hunter walked over too. Rifle slung over her shoulder. Stared at Xiao Xiao.
"Root-level..."
Xiao Xiao looked down.
"Who you?"
She blinked.
"I..."
Xiao Xiao sniffed.
"You smell—like dentist—"
Mechanical hunter: "???"
Jax coughed.
"She's a patient. From a few days ago."
Xiao Xiao's eyes lit up.
"Oh—dentist's patient—you friend now—"
Mechanical hunter stared.
Old Joe chuckled.
"Kid's got a Root-level as a friend now."
Jax ignored him.
Walked over to the doll girl.
She was squatting on the ground. Picking through Hunter parts.
"Mister. Can this fix my doll?"
Jax looked at it.
Miniature power core.
"Yeah."
Her eyes lit up.
"Really?"
Jax nodded.
"Shop tomorrow."
She nodded hard.
"Okay!"
---
Dawn coming.
Xiao Xiao yawned.
"Dentist—sleepy—go home sleep—"
Jax nodded.
"Sure. Next time you come, I'll change your oil."
Xiao Xiao blinked.
"What oil?"
Jax thought.
"Something... tasty."
Xiao Xiao's eyes went wide.
"Really?"
Jax nodded.
"Really."
Xiao Xiao's tentacles wiggled happy.
"Then I come again—"
It slid back into the deep shadows. Gone.
Old Joe stared at the spot.
"Kid. You really gonna feed it oil?"
Jax shook his head.
"Just said that."
Old Joe stared at him.
---
**[Chapter Ten · End]**
**[Ding! Quest complete: Mechanic Demon's Invitation. Rewards: New Coins +500, Mechanical Repair EXP +300.]**
**[Ding! Achievement triggered: Friend of the Root. Basic EXP +300.]**
**[Ding! Xiao Xiao's favorability toward you +20.]**