Chapter 300: The Dancing Giant
A concentrated beam of light erupted from hundreds of laser cannons, converging at a single point. The high energy unleashed transformed into heat, causing the atmosphere to turn into plasma. A fierce glow and extreme temperatures spread throughout the surroundings.
“It’s so bright!”
“My sensors have whitewashed!”
The intense electromagnetic waves and visible light emitted exceeded the detection limits of the surrounding sensors. The screens turned completely white, and most observation values maxed out.
“Did we overdo it…?”
“We need to reassess the onboard sensors.”
The data displayed in the command room switched to remote observation. At the center of the footage, a pure white brilliance, reminiscent of the sun, was born.
Given this heat quantity, even a creature the size of Fenrir should not be able to withstand it.
However, it is precisely this absurdity that allows Threat Creatures to exist.
“Movement detected!”
“Froze has been confirmed!”
From the location of the extreme heat, Froze burst forth. Normally, the targeting systems would adjust to track Froze’s movements, but it seemed the front-line machines, blinded by the whiteout, were unable to respond effectively.
“…Damage detected.”
Yet, it appeared that this high-energy attack had been effective against Froze. Analysis of the zoomed footage confirmed that its surface was significantly scorched.
“Ah, it seems laser attacks are effective against Froze!”
Asahi exclaimed with excitement upon seeing the footage.
“It might have been mitigated by a magical barrier! With that level of heat, it wouldn’t be surprising if its entire body evaporated!”
“Looks like it’s not going to be that easy…”
Having evaded the laser attack, Froze immediately began to flee at full speed, darting away from the automated machines that had begun to adjust their targeting in response to the Tactical Data Link’s commands. However, its speed was extraordinary. It surpassed the speed of sound, and the debris kicked up by its movements obscured visibility, making it difficult for the laser attacks to connect.
“No issues detected in Froze’s movements.”
“There’s damage to its fur, but it seems the muscle tissue remains unharmed.”
“I wonder if it feels any pain…”
For a typical creature, the pain from burns would hinder its movements. Yet, perhaps due to the excitement of battle or its unique structure that allows it to ignore pain, Froze continued to move with incredible speed, rendering concentrated laser attacks ineffective.
“Older Sister, this is amazing! It’s moving so fast that the turrets can’t keep up! We need to reassess our tactics quickly, or we’ll be toyed with by that speed!”
Since Asahi was not involved in the operational command this time, she casually shared her thoughts. However, the local Tactical AI was likely in a state of urgency. They had to continue attacking a target moving at supersonic speeds while dealing with the reduced sensitivity of their sensors due to the aftermath of the concentrated laser attack.
“We’re unable to execute effective attacks.”
“Iris has shifted its basic strategy to information gathering.”
Then, a notification from Iris indicated a change in strategy, reducing the pressure of attacks on Froze. The focus shifted from aggressive elimination to hindering its movement.
It seemed Froze had sensed this change.
Its high-speed movements shifted from evasion to offense.
With a powerful leap, Froze twisted its body and closed in on the Jotun. A shell was fired from a railgun that happened to align with the oncoming Threat Creature.
“Direct hit! …But it seems the barrier held.”
The initial attack was barely survived. However, the next one was unavoidable.
As Froze landed, it crashed into the deployed Multi-legged Tank, then charged straight at the Jotun B before it. Perhaps it realized that attacks could only be directed towards the turret’s orientation, as there were no attack-capable turrets in the direction Froze was leaping.
“Damage confirmed. The fifth main cannon is completely destroyed.”
It was likely that Froze had bitten it off. The contact was brief, but it was enough to obliterate the rear main cannon along with its turret, sending it flying through the air.
Lasers and shells rained down from the surroundings, but despite its massive size, Froze skillfully dodged them while continuing its advance. It leaped at Jotun B twice more, destroying its main turret. The automated machines on-site were completely at its mercy.
“We’re going to lose Jotun B’s main cannon!”
“This is probably impossible…”
Utsugi and Erika seemed to have calculated Froze’s speed and the turret’s rotation speed. Unless they could accurately predict Froze’s movements a few seconds ahead, their current equipment would be unable to deliver effective attacks. However, Froze was moving at supersonic speeds, making it difficult to predict even its trajectory a fraction of a second in advance.
And then…
In the footage, Jotun B suddenly belched flames from within.
“Major damage confirmed on Jotun B!”
“Power reactors two and three have stopped. Circulation of the operating fluid is being forcibly halted.”
“Older Sister, it looks like Froze just breathed fire!”
Within mere minutes of the battle commencing, the Jotun was defeated. Analysis of the footage confirmed that a fireball expelled from Froze struck Jotun B directly. The speed of the flames was also supersonic, making it an unavoidable attack for the sluggish Jotun.
“Jotun B, emergency stop. Initiating core room isolation.”
“Iris has opted to launch Anti-Magic Barrier Missiles!”
At this rate, the Jotun unit would soon be annihilated. The Strategic AI, Iris, made this judgment and launched Ultra Hypersonic Missiles from the missile platform at the rear. The missiles, instantly accelerated to supersonic speeds by the Electromagnetic Catapult, began their flight at an astonishing velocity.
“Anti-Magic Barrier Missile accelerating. Impact in 28 seconds.”
The Ultra Hypersonic Missiles possessed trajectory correction capabilities, but they could not use their own sensors. Even if sensors were installed, the aerodynamic heating generated at such speeds would cause the sensor openings to reach extreme temperatures. To protect the missile body from the heat, the tip was equipped with heat-resistant armor designed to absorb temperature through vaporization.
Thus, missile operation was conducted externally.
The turrets of the Quadrupedal and Multi-legged Tanks synchronized and unleashed a barrage of metal shells at Froze. Hundreds of rounds per second were fired in waves at the target.
However, this was insufficient to neutralize Froze’s magical barrier. Its speed was too great to land a direct hit. Still, they could disrupt its movement path and attack actions.
A fireball expelled by Froze veered slightly off course, striking the ground near Jotun D. The fireball exploded violently, causing the nearby Quadrupedal Tanks to melt like wax. The overwhelming heat turned the ground into lava, glowing a fiery red.
“Jotun D is experiencing operational issues with its front drive wheels.”
The status display for Jotun D turned bright red. The area near where the fireball landed was damaged solely from radiant heat. If that fireball had struck directly, it would indeed have rendered it immobile in one blow. The intense heat would spread through the operating fluid circulating throughout its body.
“We’ve set up multiple small-scale laser concentration points along the predicted movement path.”
Even if it wouldn’t be a fatal blow, they desperately wanted to land some attacks. Iris decided to sacrifice offensive power to ensure effective hits, dispersing the concentration of laser fire and setting up laser targeting in the order of highest probability along the predicted movement path.
By sheer coincidence, Froze leaped into one of those concentrated points. The concentrated heat rays placed immense strain on Froze’s barrier.
Froze hurriedly jumped back from that spot.
“Anti-Magic Barrier Missile, impact.”
Then, the glowing red missile’s warhead pierced through the air and struck Froze.
The tanks were being toyed with by the bouncing canine, while a massive missile came hurtling in from off-screen. By the way, doesn’t the imagery of the warhead glowing red from aerodynamic heating make your heart race?