NOVEL NEXT Chapter 445: Game Changer
Four Hours Earlier
The command deck of the Behemoth was very busy as crew members monitored the massive airship's systems.
Everyone was focused, eyes on their own panels, making sure this giant piece of metal stayed steady in the sky.
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They had been successful so far and had encountered little resistance since leaving Tempest Fort, so they planned to maintain this momentum.
"Status report!" Commander Thomson called from his seat, which was centrally located and slightly elevated from the others.
From his vantage point, he could see and supervise everyone.
They were all wearing brown, comfortable-looking insulated jackets, except for key personnel like the commander, first officer, engineers , and the pilot.
"Commander, Altitude is stable at three thousand feet. We're in a clear zone with no turbulence." The pilot responded—a 32-year-old man who had spent his entire life training to maneuver an airship of this size.
The reason they were only at this altitude was because, the higher they went, the harder it became to filter the miasma.
After testing different heights and comparing the results, they found that 3,000 feet was the perfect spot, maximizing energy efficiency and minimizing aerodynamic resistance.
"Good. What's our radar showing?" Thomson turned his attention to the other crew members."
"Commander, We're picking up multiple signals below, but they can't reach us." The navigator reported.
"Double-check that data and expand the range. I want to see how effective this new radar system really is," he ordered.
"Roger, Commander"
A series of magnetic nodes outside began emitting low-frequency sounds to create a real-time map of the area.
Suddenly, warning lights blinked on the monitors
"Commander, there's a new blip on the radar!" an operator reported.
"What is it ? "
"Commander, it's horde of unique flying corrupteds chasing us,"
While this many enemies would usually be alarming, the crew felt confident in the Behemoth's abilities.
Just its sheer size and the advanced technology behind it gave them a strong sense of security.
In addition, they had also expected this.
Knowing how large the airship was, it was bound to attract the attention of many flying monsters.
"Can we outrun them if we speed up?" Thomson asked.
"Yes, Commander, we are currently flying at 500 kilometers per hour, so we still have a lot of leverage," the navigator replied, glancing at the data on his screen.
Theoretically, the Behemoth could reach up to 1,200 km/hour, but that would drain its energy very quickly, so that speed was only reserved for emergencies.
Thomson tapped his fingers against the cool metal armrest of his chair .
His mind raced with his next order when a female voice broke through his concentration.
"Commander, I think this is the perfect chance to run some live tests for our advance weapons systems," Abigail suggested.
She was one of the engineers sent by the Minister of Technology to gather important performance data of the Airship.
Thomson paused and thought about what she said. It might not be a bad idea, especially since the risk was pretty low.
"Listen up! Unique flying corrupteds are chasing us ! All hands on deck! Get the Electromagnetic Cannons ready!" he ordered.
"Yes, Commander!" they shouted together, adrenaline and excitement pushing them forward.
"Let's show them what the human race can do!" he encouraged them.
Outside the airship, creaking sound filled the air as huge cannons started to move.
Each weapon was as big as a small plane and could rotate and lift easily, tracking their targets with precision.
If Reign were here, he'd be surprised to see that these weapons incorporated the same theory as his railgun.
However, instead of firing spike-like projectiles, they used round metal bullets. The inside of the cannon was designed differently to accommodate these rounds.
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
The inside of the canons sparked with electricity, while the mechanical motor adjusted the aim.
"Firing in three… two… one…" Thomson counted down, his eyes focused on the monitor.
"Zero!"
BOOOOM!
With a loud roar, the first cannon fired, releasing hyper-speed round projectile that instantly broke the sound barrier and traveled at 50,000 km/h. It moved so fast that it looked like streaks of light in the air.
Before the Corrupteds realized what was happening, the projectile struck the ones in front, and suddenly, they were completely obliterated by the rapid shots that followed.
BOOOOM!
BOOOOM!
BOOOOM!
Their hard bodies shattered upon impact, as these rounds were engineered to explode on contact, increasing their lethality.
Meanwhile, those who survived broke formation and fled, showing the vast disparity in firepower.
"Target acquired!" the weapon officer yelled "We've got the ones running away in our sights!"
"Keep firing! Keep the pressure on! Destroy them all!" Thomson ordered.
BOOOOM!
BOOOOM!
BOOOOM!
They kept bombarding the horde until none dared to chase them again.
After the display of power, a wave of exhilaration swept through everyone.
The thunderous explosions outside had barely faded when they erupted into cheers, their voices ringing with disbelief and excitement.
"Did you see that?!" one technician shouted, his face lit up with joy. "Those rounds tore right through them!"
A nearby operator high-fived him, grinning from ear to ear. "I can't believe how effective they were! We're finally making a difference!"
As the adrenaline rose, they began clapping and hugging each other, their camaraderie evident in this monumental moment.
Behemoth was working!
It was time for humanity to reclaim its place at the top of the food chain once again.
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30 Minutes before landing
"Slow down," Thomson ordered.
The crew responded immediately, adjusting the throttle to a controlled 300 kilometers per hour.
"Keep a watch on the impact!" he barked, eyes narrowing as he focused on the horizon. .
"We need to make a soft entry." he added.
"Yes, Captain! Current readings are stable. Impact is within safe limits."
With that assurance, they proceeded to bump into the barrier.
They were able to pass through, but because of the ship's massive size, the barrier trembled from the sheer force and started flashing erratically.
Knowing this would create a commotion, they quickly accessed the Green Valley local network system to send a message and avoid mass panic.
Meanwhile, in the passenger hub, mercenaries, soldiers, hunters, and various other personnel who had come for the mission received the announcement that the Behemoth had finally reached its destination
"So it's finally time," a hunter declared as he stood up.
If Reign was present, he would notice that this person shared a strong resemblance to Jayden.