NOVEL NEXT Chapter 408: 408:Naval Warfare[V]
The air around the Devil's Triangle felt suffocating, a strange blend of dread and disbelief gripping every individual aboard the massive fleet encircling the ominous region.
The bombardment was unrelenting. Missiles, artillery shells, and beams of pure energy were being fired continuously, their trajectories aimed squarely toward the lone ship hovering definitely in the sky. Each strike seemed powerful enough to obliterate nearly anything that came in its path—yet, the target remained unscathed.
The pulsating shield around Evan's ship absorbed each impact with effortless grace, its surface shimmering and rippling like water struck by raindrops. Every time a missile detonated, the shield pulsed outward, neutralizing the blast and dispersing the shockwaves harmlessly into the atmosphere.
On the bridge of the USL Vanguard, Admiral Jonathan Reeves stood frozen, his gaze locked on the tactical display showing real-time footage of their futile assault. His fingers clenched the railing tightly, the strain evident in his pale knuckles.
"Is it still there?" His voice was barely above a whisper, yet it carried the weight of desperation.
The radar operator hesitated, his trembling hands double-checking the readings. "Y-yes, sir. The target… it's still there."
A collective wave of unease swept across the command center. The tension was palpable, choking even the battle-hardened officers who had witnessed countless battles.
Across the fleet, frustration boiled over.
Screens lit up and messages erupted one after another as other Admirals sent signals of contact.
"Damn it!" Admiral Hiroshi Takamura of Daxia slammed his fist against the table, the sharp bang cutting through the silence. His normally composed exterior was replaced by raw frustration. "What the hell is this thing's limit? Can someone please tell me how it's still standing?"
No one had an answer to his question.
Onboard the French flagship Liberté, Admiral Pierre Moreau wiped a bead of sweat from his brow and muttered something in French under his breath, his voice quivering. "This… this isn't natural. We've thrown everything we have, and it's barely flinched. It's like fighting a god. C'est pas normal."
Admiral Sergei Ivanov of the USR leaned back in his chair, his stoic mask slipping as he exhaled sharply. "If this continues, we'll run out of ammunition before we even scratch it. We need another plan."
Reeves turned toward his tactical officer, his voice slightly cracking with desperation. "What's the status of the ship? Any signs of weakness?"
The officer shook his head, his expression grim. "None, sir. The shield is holding strong. Its energy output hasn't decreased even the slightest."
Soon, a discussion erupted among the Admirals which became fierce due to a strong onslaught of opinions as everyone was equally clueless regarding how to proceed in this situation with no way out.
Reeves felt a cold sweat trickle down his back. His heart pounded in his chest as he stared out at the seemingly endless expanse of water. The ships in his fleet along with those from other nations continued their assault, but the futility of it all was beginning to weigh heavily on him.
"Holy shit," someone muttered under their breath. "Just how much are we gonna fire?"
The radar operator turned in his chair, his face ashen. "Too much. If we keep this up, we'll destabilize the entire region."
"Let's do this, we will circle around the Devil's Triangle," Reeves ordered. "Restrict its passage."
"Let's make sure he can't enter that area no matter what."
_____
Meanwhile, onboard Evan's ship, the scene was no less chaotic. The relentless barrage rocked the vessel, though its advanced stabilizers absorbed most of the impact. Even so, the sheer intensity of the attack was enough to make even Evan, who usually exuded an air of unshakable confidence, grit his teeth.
Despite being nonchalant, witnessing the fleet from the entire world chasing after him as though he was some kind of thief or dog who had stolen something, greatly irritated him.
"Why am I being treated like this?" he muttered, his voice laced with both anger and disbelief. "Like I'm some world-class criminal who's about to destroy the Earth. Or an alien invader who has come to conquer their lives."
Aurora's voice, calm and steady, resonated in the air. [They fear the unknown, Sir. They fear the uncertainty you bring into their world.]
Evan clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing. "Whatever. I've had enough of this. Clear them out."
Aurora didn't respond verbally, but the ship's systems roared to life. Deep within the Devil's Triangle, the surrounding water began to churn violently, and a low, menacing hum reverberated across the horizon.
_____
Back on the USL Vanguard, Admiral Reeves and his crew froze as an eerie sound began to fill the air. It wasn't the sharp whistle of incoming missiles or the thunderous roar of explosions. This was different—a deep, resonant tone that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once.
"What is that?" Reeves muttered, his voice barely audible over the rising noise.
The radar operator's screen suddenly lit up with frantic warnings. "Sir! Energy levels are spiking inside the Triangle!"
"What?!" Reeves spun on his heel, his expression one of pure disbelief.
The operator swallowed hard, his voice shaky as he repeated himself. "The energy levels… they're rising exponentially. Something massive is building up inside the Triangle!"
Admiral Takamura's eyes widened in shock. "It's the ship. It's retaliating."
Onboard the Liberté, Moreau gripped the edge of his console so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "Mon dieu… What have we angered?"
The sound grew louder, a deep bass that seemed to reverberate through the very bones of the ships and the soul of their crews. The water surrounding the fleet began to glow faintly, the mist swirling into unnatural vortices as if caught in some invisible storm.
"Admiral Reeves!" one of his officers shouted. "We have incoming readings from the Triangle—something big is about to happen!"
Reeves' throat turned dry. His voice was cracked as he issued the command. "All hands, brace for impact. And for God's sake, someone figure out what's going on!"
Before anyone could react further, a blinding light erupted from the heart of the Triangle. The entire fleet was momentarily engulfed in a wave of pure energy, the air sizzling with electricity. The shield around Evan's ship began to expand outward, its pulsating surface now glowing with an intense, almost blinding brilliance.
The admiral's voice cracked as he screamed into the radio, "Prepare to engage! This isn't over yet!"