“J-12, reached effective firing range. Sensor synchronization rate maintained at 95% or higher. All main cannons, commencing indirect aiming.”
“Autonomous (Smart) Warhead selected. Initial warhead velocity is projected at 6,000m/s.”
＜Iris＞ seems to be planning a saturation bombardment using Jötunn 12.
The plan is to mix Burnstone Warheads among the regular warheads. If they aim too carefully, there’s a high probability it will be evaded.
“J-12, commence firing.”
Jötunn’s six main cannons and sixteen secondary cannons unleashed a simultaneous burst of white smoke. The precisely controlled Smart Cannon Shells flew towards their target, subtly adjusting their trajectories.
“Continuous firing. ＜Froz＞ is taking intercepting action.”
“J-12, Fire Control Radar activated. Burnstone Warhead launched.”
The distance between them is approximately 2km. Approximately 0.3 seconds after firing, the Cannon Shells will reach ＜Froz＞.
Just as it evaded the Cannon Shell that arrived just before, the Burnstone Warhead plunged into a position where it would hit for sure.
“Impact.”
The metal cover encasing the Burnstone collided with the Magic Barrier deployed by ＜Froz＞. The Burnstone, compressed between the front and rear of the warhead, generated an immense amount of heat instantaneously.
The heat generated by the Burnstone eroded ＜Froz＞’s Barrier, and in the gap where the defensive function was locally lost, the following Cannon Shells struck directly.
“Damage assessment.”
In the video, red smoke spread explosively. A hypersonic Armor-Piercing Shell had penetrated a part of ＜Froz＞’s back.
The Cannon fire from the Land Battleship, which would have only been a feint with ordinary Armor-Piercing Shells, was clearly inflicting significant damage.
“Penetration confirmed. A great achievement.”
“＜Froz＞’s behavior has changed. It’s clearly faltering.”
“Just faltering from a direct hit and penetration of the Cannon Shell…?”
The injured ＜Froz＞ hurriedly jumped back. Confirming this, ＜The Tree＞ also ceased its attack.
The goal is to show their power and repel it, not to eliminate it. If they were to carelessly eliminate this ＜Fenrir＞ parent and child, it could lead to a Demon Forest outbreak.
It is judged that dealing with ＜Fenrir＞, for whom countermeasures are somewhat established, is better than having an unexpectedly strong enemy appear.
“Measuring the extent of the damage. The warhead seems to have penetrated the back near the center of the torso. Scorched marks can also be seen on the surrounding fur. Judging from the penetration wound, a part of the back muscles is damaged, but it hasn’t reached the internal organs. It is believed that it twisted its body at the time of impact.”
Akane (she) read out the analysis results.
Eve (she) had an indescribable expression on her face at the subtle results of the attack.
The distance between them was within 2km. Despite being a very short-range, precisely aimed shot, it was sensed at the last moment and avoided so as not to be a fatal wound.
Can they actually take down this ＜Fenrir＞ species? Simulations seem to be repeated, but the probability of defeating it still does not exceed 50%.
“Confirmed that one Burnstone Warhead can neutralize the Barrier enough to allow subsequent Armor-Piercing Shells to pass through. A very effective warhead.”
“Details are still being analyzed, but it appears that the Magic Barrier is nullified to a diameter of about 1-2m, centered on the point of impact of the Burnstone Warhead. It does not neutralize the entire Barrier.”
＜Froz＞, dripping blood, slowly retreated towards the forest.
It seems to have understood that they possess some kind of lethal attack method.
And it probably also understands that if it doesn’t do anything careless, it won’t come to a fight to the death.
“＜Froz＞ has retreated from the buffer zone. ＜Iris＞ has declared the cancellation of combat readiness. The border Garrison will transition to Second-Class Combat Deployment.”
“J-12, Fire Control Radar deactivated. Transitioning to passive mode.”
Confirming that ＜Froz＞ had completely lost its will to fight, the deployed autonomous machines also slowly released their encirclement.
In particular, it probably sensed that ＜The Tree＞ side had also begun to withdraw as Jötunn’s Active Radar was deactivated.
＜Froz＞ turned on its heel in the forest and ran off at a speed that didn’t seem possible for an injured creature.
“Still as tough as ever… Are there more of the Fenrir species…?”
“Unknown, Ma’am. However, there is no doubt that they are breeding. It is better to assume that multiple individuals exist.”
The adult Fenrir species, such as ＜Froz＞ and ＜Yarun＞, have the power to single-handedly outmaneuver ＜The Tree＞’s autonomous machines.
Currently, only 2 adults and 1 juvenile have been confirmed, but they are usually very stealthy and cannot be found by optical satellite exploration.
In other words, it is unknown how many of this ＜Fenrir＞ species live in this Demon Forest.
Furthermore, it has been found that this species has territories and is active in maintaining them. It has also been found that they act to expand it whenever there is an opportunity.
“If multiple ＜Fenrir＞ species enter combat simultaneously due to some trigger, there is a possibility that the defense line will be breached. It will be possible to repel them in the end, but a great deal of damage will occur.”
“I think so too. Is it best to keep them in check in their current position as wary neighbors?”
“＜Iris＞ has determined so. ＜Ringo＞ also supports it.”
The Transcendent Intelligences belonging to ＜The Tree＞ had chosen to maintain the status quo with regard to ＜Fenrir＞. Even if there was a situation where they could be reliably killed, they would be let go, as in this case.
“Well, that’s fine. We were starting to get a little underestimated, weren’t we? I think this one was a good wedge.”
And with this result, Eve (she) endorsed the policy. In the future, ＜The Tree＞ will stop expanding at least in the areas bordering ＜Fenrir＞’s territory.
◇◇◇◇
Rocks crumbled and fell from the towering cliffs.
The sensors installed there captured the scene in detail.
＜The Tree＞ is wary of ＜The Reflector＞, which is currently the greatest threat.
For this reason, it had dispatched several autonomous machines and continued to observe in stealth.
And finally, ＜The Reflector＞ began to move.
＜The Reflector＞ is a giant turtle-shaped Threat Creature with a body length of 280m and a height of 140m. The species name is ＜Spirit Turtle＞. Fortunately, no individuals other than ＜The Reflector＞ have been confirmed at this time.
However, Monsters that closely resemble this ＜Spirit Turtle＞ have been confirmed.
The smaller ones are about 80cm long. The larger ones are nearly 3m long, Monsters that closely resemble turtles.
This Monster is called ＜Iron Turtle＞, and its shell contains various metals.
In North End City in the Afrasia United Kingdom, it is an unfortunate Monster that is hunted as soon as it is found as an important metal resource.
And turtles are very long-lived. Considering the characteristics of Monsters, it is assumed that the longer their lifespan, the larger they grow.
On the outer edge of the Demon Forest, they are likely to be hunted by human hunters, so not many individuals that have grown very large have been confirmed.
However, it is thought that larger individuals survive if you go a little deeper into the forest.
The shell of the ＜Iron Turtle＞ is extremely strong, with a high-purity alloy intricately combined with living tissue, providing extremely high defense. Since the power of Magic (Fantasy) is combined there, it would not be possible to inflict even a scratch with a half-hearted attack.
Asahi (she) predicts that such a Monster survived for many years and became the giant Monster called ＜The Reflector＞.
And until now, ＜The Reflector＞, which had not moved at all, twisted its body without any warning. That was issued as an emergency signal from the surveillance machine.
The last time movement was confirmed was when it was caught up in a conflict between ＜Wyvern＞s.
What is the reason for starting to move this time?
＜Ringo＞, having received the information, immediately began collecting information.
This is an episode about punishing naughty children!
And finally, some disturbing information… Scary!