Chapter 337: Meteor Fall
I was bedridden with a cold last week! My apologies!
The Fringhorni-class battleship Blazabrik aimed its cannons skyward.
Four triple-barreled multi-stage electromagnetic railguns (coil cannons) stood ready, white steam billowing from their tips as they cooled.
Then, the signal to commence firing was transmitted.
From the twelve cannon mouths, shells erupted simultaneously, their initial velocity reaching approximately 8,000 m/s.
The launched shells would soar through space for several minutes before descending toward a target located 1,200 km away.
This smart shell fired at a rate of twelve rounds per minute per cannon, totaling 144 rounds per minute for the entire ship.
For ten continuous minutes, a staggering 1,440 shells would be unleashed.
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“Smart shells are flying normally.”
Countless bright points moved at an altitude of around 1,000 km. These were the shells fired by the Blazabrik, aimed at the Reflector.
“I wonder if they’ll have any effect…”
The leading shells were equipped with burning stone warheads designed to neutralize magical barriers. Following them were depleted uranium warheads intended to penetrate the now-disabled magical barrier and collide with the threat creature’s core. However, to ensure they could breach the enhanced physical defenses bolstered by magical (fantasy) means, the front ten percent of each shell was composed of burning stone.
Overall, these shells, embedded with burning stone, were extraordinarily expensive from the perspective of the Kingdom of Repuitari. Yet, from the viewpoint of The Tree, they were merely utilizing a portion of the abundant burning stone they produced.
The shells, tracing a parabolic arc, crested their peak and entered their descent trajectory.
The precise coordinates of the Reflector had been shared with the shell control unit by a communication satellite that intercepted the signal being transmitted. The smart shells picked up GPS signals to ascertain their positions, but once they entered the atmosphere, they would rely on their inertial guidance systems to reach their target.
The inertial guidance system, crafted by The Tree, boasted an astonishing accuracy of mere centimeters per hour in known regions. At the very least, this precision could be expected in the current operational area.
“The Reflector‘s movement speed is within expected parameters. Calculations for the final impact point are complete. Sending location data to the shell group.”
This operational status was reported in real-time by the Communicator Android operated by Iris, who stood beside Eve. It was a reward for Iris, who was working hard on-site.
Meanwhile, the smart shells, having received the impact point data from Iris, adjusted their fins as they descended. This time, the shells were not equipped with propulsion systems; their thrust relied solely on the initial velocity at launch.
The shells were designed to minimize air resistance during their atmospheric entry, and they were also equipped with heat shields to protect the warheads from the intense heat generated.
“What will the terminal velocity of the warheads be?”
“According to simulations, approximately 5,000 m/s. Direct hits would yield greater power, but…”
“We definitely don’t want to get close enough for a direct hit…”
On this planet, for some reason, the gravitational acceleration in high-altitude regions was about twice that of the surface. Thus, even in free fall, the attacks would be more powerful than expected. Of course, it was also due to the shells being designed by The Tree that air resistance was kept to a minimum.
To increase the terminal velocity just before impact, final acceleration via rocket motors would be necessary. However, doing so would waste weight in the form of rocket fuel, leading to divided opinions on which method was superior.
“…We’ve detected electromagnetic wave emissions from the Reflector.”
And then, the Reflector, which had merely been moving until now, began to take active measures.
“Microwave emissions detected. Observing frequencies in the 2-4 GHz range. Continuing to confirm the 10 GHz band. Pulsed waves detected.”
“Eve, it seems the Reflector has noticed something!”
“…Did it notice the shells in space?”
“Directional radar waves detected. The shell group has been acquired.”
In the ultra-zoom footage, the Reflector halted its movements.
Its long neck extended, and its gaze fixed upon the descending shells, still at an altitude of about 400 km. The shells had not yet begun to glow from aerodynamic heating, so the only potential for detection would be the reflection of light from the main star.
“It’s clear that the radar emissions began after it noticed us. Moreover, it visually confirmed the shells even later. What could this mean? Perhaps some sort of magical (fantasy) intuition? Like a sense of impending danger or foresight…”
“With that massive body, foresight seems unlikely… No, perhaps it’s precisely because of that size…?”
While Eve and Asahi speculated idly, Iris’s Communicator Android continued to update the information on the front display, seemingly indifferent to their conversation. Of course, everything could be managed remotely, but Iris operated manually out of love for her older sister, wanting to see her happy.
“…Approximately five minutes until impact. Descent angle normal. Expected impact deviation is within 20 meters.”
“With a 20-meter deviation, a direct hit is almost guaranteed, especially given its size.”
Accelerated by gravity, the shell group plummeted toward the Reflector. And indeed, they were being tracked by the Reflector.
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As the shells descended below 100 km, they began to glow red from aerodynamic heating. Countless small meteors, glowing orange, filled the sky—1,440 in total.
The sky that day was slightly overcast. The brilliance of the shells descending from space was visible without obstruction.
The Reflector remained stationary, facing the incoming shell group. Its enormous eye seemed to be keenly observing them.
The shells’ descent speed reached about 5,000 m/s. In just ten seconds, they would strike their target, the Reflector.
The Reflector opened its mouth wide and roared.
The air around its head shimmered as the rapid change in atmospheric pressure altered the refractive index of light.
Almost simultaneously, a white light erupted about 130 meters above.
At this point, the phenomenon was unclear, but later analysis revealed it to be a cloud formed by the change in atmospheric pressure. It was a barrier-like construct, seemingly generated by some magical (fantasy) effect from the Reflector.
If this had been a shockwave utilizing the atmosphere, or perhaps a physical barrier created by manipulating rock in mid-air, the subsequent events would have unfolded quite differently.
First, the leading burning stone warhead collided with this luminous membrane. The impact crushed the burning stone warhead under its own kinetic energy. A standard warhead would have shattered, but this one was primarily composed of burning stone.
The kinetic energy was converted into pressure, and the burning stone vanished in an instant. This disappearance released an immense quantity of heat, raising the surrounding temperature to tens of thousands of degrees Celsius.
Accompanied by a magical (fantasy) phenomenon, this intense heating shattered the deployed barrier, allowing the subsequent shells to pass through unimpeded.
The burning stone warheads had been fired in multiple stages. While the initial plan called for 60 rounds across five volleys to saturate the magical barrier, the actual deployment amounted to 180 rounds across fifteen volleys—three times the anticipated firepower, based on the simple reasoning that it was better to ensure a hit with ample reserves.
The next wave of burning stone warheads, having bypassed the barrier in the air, rained down directly onto the Reflector. And they performed their functions as expected.
The magical (fantasy) properties of the burning stone, combined with the extreme heat generated, overwhelmed the Reflector‘s magical barrier in the blink of an eye. However, it was later revealed just how formidable that barrier had been, as it managed to stave off the burning stone warheads for even a moment.
Immediately after, the depleted uranium warheads collided with the massive body that had lost its barrier.
The surface, scorched by the heat of the burning stone, had lost its magical (fantasy) resilience. The kinetic energy of the depleted uranium warhead was unleashed upon impact.
The Reflector‘s body glowed white, and a visible shockwave radiated outward. Yet, undeterred, the subsequent shells continued to strike one after another.
For approximately ten seconds, the meteor fall unfolded, completely obscured by the rising dust and debris.
The battle against the colossal monster has begun. What will the outcome be…?! (Irresponsible hype)
★ The Hungry Fortress wants to create a massive battleship in another world! World of Sandbox, all three volumes now available!
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