Chapter 375: Blazing Flames of the Battlefield (Re-upload) [R-18]
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 375: Blazing Flames of the Battlefield (Re-upload) [R-18]
The moment Adele’s speech concluded, the Federation and Arsenos officially signed a ceasefire agreement.
But my heart was still far from calm. The true architect of this war was still out there, breathing. Before the tension could subside, Adele’s terminal vibrated softly. A subtle change crossed her expression.
“I’ve just received a message from the joint Federation and Arsenos tech teams.”
Every eye in the conference room turned to her.
“According to the analysis of the recently secured Rock Fortress debris, they’ve detected the unique signal pattern of Aaron Blake’s unmanned fortresses. They’re jamming the signal, so we can’t get exact coordinates, but they’ve managed to pinpoint the general location.”
At Adele’s words, Sheryl asked, “What region is it?”
“The Verga Asteroid Belt.”
Sheryl nodded silently and added, “That’s an ideal environment for hiding. The gravitational interference between the asteroids and the constant signal disruption would make it nearly impossible to find with a standard detection radar.”
A brief silence fell over the room as everyone fully grasped the gravity of the situation. I slowly rose from my seat, breaking the quiet.
“I guess it’s time to make our move.”
Most of the people in the room couldn’t hide their tension and anxiety about the upcoming operation. This fight carried a different weight than all the battles before it. Adele spoke again.
“As you know, we can’t send everyone to capture Aaron Blake.”
I finished her thought. “Because we don’t know when the other Rock Fortresses might attack again.”
Adele gave a slight nod. “Yes. That’s why this mission must be finished by you and Sheryl.”
A heavy silence descended upon the bridge. This was truly the final battle.
After a moment, Adele spoke again. “And for the two of you, I’ve prepared new enhanced parts to be installed on your machines. I wanted to give you both a little more strength before the final battle.”
I gave Adele a questioning look.
“New parts?”
“Yes. It’s equipment that’s been in development for a while, and I just received the report that it’s complete. Shall we go take a look now?”
Sheryl and I nodded in unison. The meeting was quickly adjourned, and we followed Adele.
The doors to the ship’s research lab hangar slid open. Inside, my machine and Sheryl’s stood side by side.
The two units, one jet-black and the other pure white, gleamed under the lights, exuding an overwhelming presence.
“Would you look over there?”
Following Adele’s pointed finger, I saw a massive propulsion unit secured on a dedicated stand. It was clearly designed to be mounted on the back of a machine. A main engine and large boosters were arranged with precision in the center, flanked by pods arrayed with various armaments.
“This equipment not only pushes a machine’s mobility to its absolute limit but also comes equipped with specially designed weapon pods to handle a variety of combat situations.”
Adele continued her explanation calmly.
“It features a super-high-speed propulsion system that allows for precise attacks even while moving at extreme speeds, and a multi-target system capable of suppressing numerous targets simultaneously in large-scale engagements.”
Sheryl murmured in admiration, “With this, even Aaron Blake’s fortress won’t be a problem.”
I smiled and looked at Adele.
“This is certainly reassuring.”
“I trust that the two of you will be able to utilize it beyond its maximum performance.”
I nodded and slowly approached the parts, lightly tracing their surface with my fingertips.
“This should definitely meet the levels of mobility and firepower I was hoping for.”
Sheryl also examined the equipment and smiled in satisfaction.
“The same goes for me.”
Adele nodded at us.
“But don’t let your guard down until the very end. This equipment is powerful, but it will place a significant strain on both the machine and the pilot.”
“Hearing that just makes me more excited.”
A moment later, the tech crew arrived to prepare for the final checks. The new parts were quickly and precisely installed onto our machines.
*
The day of the operation.
The Astrea, carrying our machines, cut through space toward the target coordinates. A portion of the Federal Army Forces and an elite unit from Arsenos were also participating in a support capacity.
Sitting in the cockpit, I quietly flexed my fingers.
There could be no mistakes, no hesitation.
[We’ll be there soon.]
Elena’s voice came over the comms.
“What’s the radar interference like?”
[The interference in this zone is heavy. Just as expected. There are probably traps waiting for us, but it won’t be a problem.]
I nodded and ran another system check on my machine. The newly installed enhanced parts had increased its output by 30 percent, but the difficulty of control and the stress on the system had risen accordingly.
“Colonel, this is the first time we’ve sortied together like this.”
[Now that you mention it, you’re right. Just try not to hold me back.]
I chuckled at Sheryl’s playful taunt and shot back, “I’m not sure you’ll be able to keep up with my speed, Colonel.”
[Oh? Care to make a bet on it?]
“A bet… Don’t you remember I won last time? I still haven’t used my wish, you know. Are you sure about this?”
[I remember. But this time will be different.]
“Alright. I’m holding you to two wishes now.”
[Still as confident as ever. Fine. But if I win—]
Before she could finish, Elena’s voice cut into the channel again.
[Thirty seconds to the target point. All combat personnel, prepare for launch.]
The moment Elena’s transmission ended, the operation alert blared throughout the ship. Red warning lights flashed, bathing the interior in their glow, and the troops and pilots waiting in each section began to move as one.
The operation would begin with a single act: a full-fleet bombardment to obliterate the entire asteroid belt.
It was a clear statement that we would leave the enemy nowhere to hide. There was no reason to fight a war of attrition on unfavorable terrain.
First, the massive energy cannon mounted on the strategic battleship that once carried the Supreme Chairman of Arsenos began to charge.
Simultaneously, two Federation ships equipped with modified Xeno-Lux cannons fixed their barrels forward.
“Beam convergence at 80 percent.”
“Deployment complete. Firing in three seconds.”
The next moment, a flash of light swallowed the asteroid belt whole. In the silence of space, devoid of sound or shockwaves, asteroids hundreds of meters wide evaporated one after another, punching a massive hole in the void.
It was then that something slowly emerged from the center of the incinerated asteroid field, from between the collapsing debris.
[Rock Fortress detected! High energy readings confirmed!]
[All hands, brace for impact!]
Instantly, panels on the fortress’s outer wall opened sequentially, and massive cannons emerged in unison. Just as red targeting lasers lanced out toward multiple allied ships—
KRA-KOOOOM!
A volley of fire, launched without delay, slammed into the vanguard fleet. A Federation transport ship at the front was torn in two and exploded. As the vibrations spread in a chain reaction, an Arsenos battleship following behind attempted an emergency evasive maneuver, but its flank was struck, and it went silent.
[Mobile weapons, launch!]
Elena’s calm voice rang out. I gripped the control levers in my cockpit.
“Let’s go.”
The launch tube connected to the vacuum of space flashed red, and the engine accelerated to maximum output amidst the palpable tension.
Asteroid fragments streaked across my vision. Through them, the massive structure of Aaron Blake’s fortress, a sprawling shadow as dark as the void, began to fill my view.
[Big brother! Unmanned weapons are launching from the enemy fortress!]
Hina’s sharp voice came over the comms. A moment later, a cluster of enemy signals began to light up the radar.
“Perfect.”
The instant I placed my hand on the lever, Sheryl’s modified Eclipse, flying beside me, flashed and accelerated.
She was already diving into the enemy formation.
Along her high-speed trajectory, an enemy unit immediately exploded. A chain of fireballs followed. The Eclipse’s movements were like a prophecy, carving a perfect arc through the enemy lines as if it knew their every move in advance.
[Lieutenant, if you just stand there gawking, you’re going to lose the bet.]
Sheryl’s voice, full of composure, came through the comms.
I smirked and entered combat mode.
“You’ll regret provoking me.”
The output gauge glowed red, and my machine broke through the acceleration curve, hurtling forward in an instant.
The machine tilted sharply as it weaved between asteroid fragments.
As multiple enemy units were locked on by the targeting radar, the HUD flashed red, and the auto-target mode engaged.
Six units. Thirty degrees ahead. Line formation.
The next moment, the machine’s inertial dampeners screamed. Acceleration. A hard brake. A spin. Without ever touching the brakes, I changed my angle and dove right into their midst.
“Now.”
The panel on my left shoulder opened, and a volley of guided missiles launched. While they jammed the enemy radar, my machine broke through the center and sliced through the right flank like a blade.
Two enemy units to the left. Then, I pierced the core of another one approaching from the rear.
A flash of light filled my vision.
“Damn, this thing performs.”
Despite the momentary overload, the machine remained steady. I began to shift my aim to the second and third groups.
The number of enemy kills was being tallied on the HUD. Fifteen destroyed so far. Even then, three, four more exploded in succession.
“Faster.”
I fired the verniers on both sides of the machine simultaneously. It tore through the explosions, plunging deeper into the enemy formation. I detected two more unmanned drones hiding behind asteroid debris. Launching the blades on both sides, I cut them down as I passed.
Flames blossomed in the void as I stabilized the machine.
[Lieutenant, watch your rear left.]
“I know.”
I had already calculated its predicted path in the cockpit.
The next moment, I executed a 180-degree evasive turn, and an energy rifle deployed from the hardpoint on my back.
CRUNCH!
The rifle’s intense heat pierced through three enemy units in a line behind me, and silence returned to the darkness.