“High-energy reaction detected at the Wyvern’s head.”
Presumably, the Wyvern wasn’t exactly brimming with余裕.
It likely used its long-range, high-威力 attack method on the spur of the moment.
The flash that burst from the Wyvern’s mouth had an observed speed of 97% of light speed, with an error of ±2%.
The flash pierced the space a mere 15m below the Titan.
“Some kind of radiation phenomenon confirmed.
The Titan has sustained heat damage to its abdomen. Some sensors and armaments are unusable.”
A direct hit was avoided.
However, the Titan sustained damage from what appeared to be radiant heat.
“Onee-sama, it’s likely a bombardment of charged particles accelerated to near light speed, or something similar! In other words, Dragon Breath! Amazing, it’s much more impressive than I thought!”
“Charged particles!?”
Onee-sama (Eve) shouted at Asahi’s report. She’s always shouting.
However, it can’t be helped.
She’s the type who unabashedly declares that charged particle cannons are romantic, but she had given up on their practical application on the ground.
Rapid deceleration due to collisions with atmospheric molecules, the difficulty of securing large amounts of power on the ground.
Above all, it’s far more practical, more powerful, and requires less power to mass-produce Multi-Stage Electromagnetic Cannons (Coil Cannons) or Railguns for the same cost.
“In the first place, the range is over 10km, right…? And damage without a direct hit…”
“Yes, Ma’am. Assuming it’s a substance that can be accelerated to near light speed, charged particles are a likely candidate. However, the opponent is a Dragon. As a resident of fantasy, it would be dangerous to apply our common sense too readily.”
Because she had been involved in the design of charged particle cannons within the atmosphere, she fully understood the absurdity (fantasy) of their practical application.
There were many hurdles to overcome, and the cost to overcome those hurdles was high, leading to the conclusion that existing weapons were sufficient.
“The Local Strategic AI has initiated combat maneuvers. It will enter the effective range of the Railgun within 30 seconds.
Saturation bombardment with Armor-Piercing Shells has been selected.
Escort fighter groups, attack formation. Missile impact time deviation attack selected.”
“Can we do it?”
“Yes, Ma’am. According to calculations, it is possible to saturate the Defense Membrane.
However, since the acceleration conversion of the impact cannot be predicted, it is currently unknown.
The Local Strategic AI also judges it as an uncertain factor (yellow).”
Its body length is greater than ＜Rain Croin＞, and its weight is expected to be considerable based on its physique.
Assuming that the “Magic Stone” discovered inside that body is the source of this magical phenomenon, the size of the Magic Stone is thought to be directly linked to the strength of the magic.
And, from the investigation of other Monsters, the weight and the size of the Magic Stone are somewhat proportional.
Asahi is analyzing whether it depends on blood flow, but the sample size is small, so it’s just a hypothesis either way.
However, assuming that is the trend, the Wyvern’s Magic Stone is larger than ＜Rain Croin＞’s, and therefore the performance of the Defense Membrane is assumed to be superior.
“We have no choice but to try, huh?”
“Yes, Ma’am. If it is judged to be effective, support attacks from the evacuating Gigantia are also possible. In 30 minutes, fighter groups launched from the Flattala City Outskirts Base will also join.
Since it is possible to saturate the Defense Membrane with physical attacks, we have a good chance of winning with our current capabilities.”
＜Ringo＞ stated definitively.
In fact, the Titan-class alone has a considerable stock of Cannon Shells. As well as the number of missiles that can be launched.
In addition, the bombardment from the Multi-legged Tanks deployed on the ground is well within range at an altitude of about 10km.
I want to believe that we won’t be unilaterally defeated.
“The Titan, Oceanus, has begun to turn and descend.”
The altitude difference with the Wyvern is less than 1,000m, but it changed course to convert potential energy into speed by descending, while also turning its more heavily armed back towards the Wyvern.
“That breath… is that what we’re calling it? The breath can’t be fired in rapid succession, right?”
“Yes, Ma’am. That seems to be the case. If it looked like it was about to fire again, ramming it with a fighter was also an option.”
A fighter is closely following the Wyvern as it continues to fly. If they caught a sign that it was about to fire its breath, they were prepared to divert the line of fire even if it meant ramming it.
Fortunately, it didn’t seem to be a rapid-fire type.
The Wyvern seems to have noticed the fighter following behind, but it only shakes its body as if annoyed and does nothing.
It probably doesn’t feel threatened.
“The Titan, Oceanus, has begun its attack.”
The Cannons installed on the Titan-class like a hedgehog fired Cannon Shells all at once.
The rear armament consists of 2 Multi-Stage Electromagnetic Cannons (Coil Cannons), 12 short-barreled, Multi-barrel Railguns, 1 Maser Cannon, and 4 Laser Cannons.
As the name suggests, the Multi-barrel Railgun is a Turret that bundles together 8 Railguns. Because it is a short barrel, the maximum muzzle velocity is limited to about 3,000m/s, but it can still fire Cannon Shells continuously from its 8 barrels.
The Cannon Shells, with a slight time difference, rush towards the Wyvern.
The distance between them is approximately 5km.
The Cannon Shells will arrive in less than 2 seconds.
The Wyvern twists its body.
First, half of the initial Cannon Shells were evaded.
It probably has something like radar. Or maybe it just has good eyes.
And, as half of them hit, the Defense Membrane spread a wave of light.
The Cannon Shells that rush in one after another without pause, but most of them are avoided due to the Wyvern’s unusual acceleration.
The Tactical AI controlling each Turret corrects its aim based on that maneuver information.
The Wyvern’s acceleration fluctuates irregularly, and the bombardment hits and misses repeatedly.
“It seems that the Defense Membrane is converting the impact of the hits into acceleration. If an acceleration exceeding predictions is exerted, the Cannon Shells can be avoided, but when that runs out, it gets hit again.
However, it seems that acceleration can be obtained if it is hit.”
“Ugh, troublesome…”
The direction of acceleration also seems to be quite varied. It’s not simply the direction of travel.
Therefore, even though the Local Strategic AI is continuing its analysis, it doesn’t seem to be able to predict it very well.
“It seems they will launch a missile attack from the rear. If it’s a pursuit from behind, we can compensate even if the course changes somewhat.”
The Wyvern is circling towards the Titan. The Titans, Oceanus, are flying on separate courses to face their backs towards the Wyvern.
The turning radius is 2km to 3km.
Both are at almost the same altitude, with a slight upward trajectory.
They don’t intend to dogfight, but inadvertently, it looks like a dogfight from the sidelines. Both are far too huge in terms of overall length and width, though.
“The Titan, Oceanus, fires missiles.”
Missiles are being launched one after another from the vertical launch systems installed with 20 doors on the back and about 4 doors on the abdomen. A total of 48 missiles are unleashed from the two ships, and each one merges while accelerating with rocket motors.
The Wyvern seems to have noticed it, but the bombardment hasn’t stopped. If it loses focus, its evasion will be neglected.
And then, anti-air missiles rushed in from behind.
Eight missiles plunged in almost simultaneously from above, below, left, and right. Their terminal velocity exceeds Mach 5. The impact of the explosives, as well as the destructive force from that speed, cannot be ignored.
Originally, delay fuses would be used against large targets, but this time that cannot be expected, so all are set to contact fuses. Proximity fuses were not adopted because their power would be dispersed.
Explosion.
The 48 missiles struck in continuous succession, slightly shifting the timing of their impacts.
“――Gyuaaa!!”
Such a sound echoed through the surrounding airspace.
It was probably the Wyvern’s scream.
The continuous bombardment and direct hits from the missiles seem to have finally caused the Defense Membrane to lose its effect.
Something sparkling scattered in the air.
It was the Wyvern’s scales.
“Damage confirmed. Continuing the attack.”
But.
It can only be said that the timing was extremely bad.
The Titan fires missiles from its vertical launch system.
At that moment, light ran through the Wyvern’s mouth.
It was point-blank range. The anti-air Railgun, which had instantly completed its targeting, scattered Cannon Shells with all its might.
The breath was released towards the Titan. And anti-air Cannon Shells exploded on its head.
The revived Defense Membrane converted the impact of the hit into acceleration.
The Wyvern, losing its balance, swept the Titan with its flash.
The air plasma, accelerated to near light speed, rained down on the missiles that had just been launched.
The particles penetrated their fragile exteriors, instantly heating the interiors.
The explosives and fuel, heated from the outside, detonated.