𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟕𝟐: 𝐈𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 (3)

It is nearly impossible to subdue the Drake star nation with prepared troops alone. After all, this isn’t a battle that can be won in a single engagement on a single battlefield.

That’s why the leaders need to secure colony sites with war potential and various strategic strongholds in different locations.

The Chimeraz fleet under the command of leader Jiannettera approached the 10th orbit planet, Fayda.

On the surface, made of cold ice and rock, were cities both big and small. Fayda, which had been somewhat terraformed, was a cold, winter-like environment with an average temperature of -7°C and frequent snowfall.

➖Bluesteel, Altblubber, the Chimeraz have appeared simultaneously on Fayda. Citizens, please evacuate to the nearest shelters immediately.

Announcements blared out across Fayda’s cities as humanoids patrolled the streets, evacuating people.

“What, wasn’t this place supposed to be safe?”

“Didn’t the Crolr invade? Why are the Chimeraz here?!”

News had come that the Crolr had invaded the solar system, paralyzing all dimensional passageways and attacking all the way to Defaulstellay. So, perhaps it was a blessing in disguise that the citizens of this city, which was already in a state of war, reacted relatively quickly and began evacuating in an orderly manner.

Troops moved swiftly through the deserted streets, while supersonic aircraft roared overhead.

Meanwhile, leader Jiannettera continued the fleet battle over Fayda.

The Fayda fleet consisted of about 25 fleets, which was small compared to Jiannettera’s 60 fleets. However, the Fayda fleet was composed of a variety of ship types, giving Jiannettera a hard time.

Their escort ships displayed partial shield deployment technology as they faced off against the Fleetcupper and Cresecter of the vanguard. When the Fleetcupper fired its tungsten lifeforms or the Bio-magnetic Accelerator Cannon shot out neutrons, they calculated the trajectories and deployed shields only at the points of impact.

In addition, when the explosive Crepitus swarmed in, the assault ships of the vanguard took control of the escort ships and intercepted them with precise cannon fire, along with their shields.

The Shockphonia group, which had to get very close to enemy ships, was analyzed as a high-priority target by the enemy and came under concentrated fire from Fayda’s main ships.

Meanwhile, other large vessels used their main ship cannons, which boasted incredible range and firepower, to counter the Lemegeton and Euryale of the rearguard.

‘The current distance is disadvantageous for us. Accelerate while diversifying the approach directions.’

At Jiannettera’s command, all the Chimeraz fliers under her command dispersed and accelerated. The widely spread Jiannettera group dispersed the Fayda fleet’s cannon resources, somehow creating an opening.

As some Chimeraz fliers barely approached, the Fayda fleet launched a large-scale carrier-based aircraft sortie as if they had been waiting.

The fliers from both sides became even more entangled, creating a tapestry of destructive light beams and countless explosions. The Fayda fleet’s carrier-based aircraft seemed to be engaging in individual skirmishes, but when viewed as a whole, they appeared to be moving in unison, changing targets every moment.

If a carrier-based aircraft was in danger, other nearby carrier-based aircraft would join in to support it, and if a Chimeraz flier was deemed threatening, they would rush towards it and concentrate their fire.

‘The movement of those carrier-based aircraft is like a collective consciousness.’

Not to be outdone, Jiannettera demonstrated her legion commander’s prowess. She precisely controlled one Cresecter and one Crepitus, responding to the efficient movements displayed by the Fayda carrier-based aircraft.

She was able to handle thousands of Chimeraz simultaneously, make hundreds of judgments about the behavior of each individual Chimeraz, and issue commands at a microsecond level to ensure the most efficient combat.

As a result, the fleet battle between the Fayda fleet and Jiannettera’s group exhibited incredibly intricate and sophisticated movements, like a chess match between humanity’s greatest tactical system and an outstanding Chimeraz leader.

🔷🔷🔷

At a military base separated from the city of Fayda, Drake regulars looked up at the turquoise sky.

➖Chimeraz fliers are descending!

➖All forces, prepare for engagement!

The soldiers held personalized weapons in their hands, boasting firepower comparable to heavy machine guns, while wearing full-body combat suits that increased their height to over 2 meters, thanks to their dynamic design.

“The Crolr didn’t come, but the Chimeraz did.”

“Engage!”

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

As beams of light and short lines erupted from various firearms and shot towards the sky, Drop Cysts, heated by the frictional heat, rained down on the military base like a catastrophic meteor shower.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Anti-air gauss turrets roared as they shot down as many Drop Cysts as possible. At the same time, large combat helicopters bombarded the sky with supersonic guided missiles, while hovering drones formed a wide barrage, like a flock of birds frozen in time.

Bipedal war machines on the ground heated up their plasma cannons, and small, multifaceted tanks spread out like spiderlings, concentrating their attacks on the Drop Cysts that had fallen on the military base’s runway.

Kuwhaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

Above the endlessly falling Drop Cysts, several Legemeton revealed their massive silhouettes.

Jiannettera had accepted the losses in the fleet battle and sent a small number of Lemegeton down to Fayda’s atmosphere.

Shrrrrrrrr. . .

The sound of the Lemegeton warship opening its mouth in the atmosphere was distinctly audible. Immediately after the Organic Accelerator Cannon in its massive maw pulsated the surrounding air, a beam of purple plasma shot down like lightning, targeting the control tower of the military base.

The control tower was targeted because it was equipped with dozens of orbital anti-aircraft guns.

Kugugugugugung!!!

At that moment, the hexahedral machines levitating with anti-gravity in the military base came to a sudden stop.

➖Area identification complete.

These machines were Drone Hives exceeding the standard size.

➖Personnel not wearing the equipment, brace yourselves for blindness.

The plasma fired by the Lemegeton warship in the atmosphere descended, causing the air to explode. Just as that destructive energy was about to hit the control tower,

Ziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!!!!

An impossibly thick shield enveloped the control tower, causing a blinding flash as if an atomic bomb had exploded.

Immediately after the flash faded, Jiannettera became even more vigilant.

‘Drone Hive. Even a single unit was a machine powerful enough to wound Phlegeth-nim.’

‘To think that there were 13 of those machines down there.’

The collective appearance of the Drone Hives.

And it didn’t end there.

Keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeng. . .!!!

Sharply rotating spheres rolled out of the hangars of the military base.

Jiannettera recognized them as soon as she saw their appearance.

‘The modern cold weapon wielded by the MDD’s Descent Maneuver Force. . . plasma cutters.’

The rolling Chaintroopers targeted the Chimeraz ground forces emerging from the Drop Cysts scattered here and there. Even without them, the long-range firearms of the troops stationed at the military base were quite threatening, but with the Chaintroopers, the Chimeraz would have no advantage in close combat either.

So Jiannettera reached out to Ludwig via the Mind Repeater.

‘Ludwig-nim.’

➖The fleet battle situation is not favorable. . . Minimize your wave transmission to prevent the waste of my psychic energy. . .

‘I would like your permission to deploy Grounsecter and Mindrocker units.’

➖They are units I have been saving to capture their capital planet. . . If we show them to the enemy now, there is a risk that they will be analyzed. . .

‘But if we don’t use them, the loss in conquering Fayda will likely be severe.’

Ludwig paused for a moment before responding.

Perhaps he was seeking Kreion’s advice.

➖I, Ludwig, am broadcasting to all the leaders. . .

➖The military forces of the Drake Federation are far stronger than expected. . . Therefore, the master has decided to modify some strategies. . .

➖From now on, I hereby authorize the deployment of Grounsecter and Mindrocker. . . Secure your assigned areas as quickly as possible and deploy colony sites to support the children for the main fleet battle. . .

‘Understood.’

🔷🔷🔷

Drop Cysts also fell on various locations, such as each Fayda city, the frozen plains, civilian facilities, and the snow-covered mountains.

This was the strategy chosen by Jiannettera, as the Fayda regulars could not destroy each and every Drop Cyst.

If even a single Drop Cyst fell, a colony seed would be planted in that spot. The agile air force and anti-gravity armored troops were diligently tracking the landing points of the Drop Cysts, but Jiannettera’s aim from the beginning was to have just one colony completed.

Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble!!!!!

An avalanche occurred on the steep ridge of the snowy mountain range. The frozen water vapor spread like a white fog, enveloping the area.

And beyond that white fog, a gigantic shadow spread up then spread in all directions.

The colony, rooted on the steep ridge, began to consume the environment by spewing black Xenotera down the slope.

Thump, thump, thump. . .!

Anti-air Organic Accelerator Cannons grew rapidly, their bizarre barrels pointing towards the sky. Then, the nest of Cresecter raised its head and exhaled hot breath. Droplets of water formed on the surface of the Chimeraz structures and fell, and the Xenotera, covered in that water, multiplied at a terrifying rate.

Soon, the newly born Cresecter ascended to the upper orbit of the colony, and the anti-air Organic Accelerator Cannons cleared the defensive satellites or human fliers in the colony’s upper orbit.

The sky thus opened up could become a major landing point for Drop Cysts.

“Target is 600 meters ahead.”

“It grew that much in such a short time?!”

Anti-gravity tanks with superior maneuverability moved at a speed of 160 km/h, maintaining a breakthrough formation with pointed tips. And inside the anti-gravity tank formation, a mobile strike force also moved along, maintaining a speed of 160 km/h.

These infantry and manned war machines kept their eyes on the front from anti-gravity platforms that levitated like magic carpets.

“It is judged to be a colony site that has not yet fully matured. Therefore, there is no change in the operation plan.”

“We will strike a minimal number of Chimeraz, plant a particle bomb on the colony, and then retreat to a safe zone.”

The air force’s bombers or the military base’s missiles were likely to be shot down. And requesting an orbital bombardment was not feasible, as the fleet battle was also stretching their resources, so this mobile strike force was deployed.

The colony was quite large, but it was a structure that had been built less than an hour ago. Thanks to this, the mobile strike force was able to race across the snowy plains, dealing with only a small number of Chimeraz deployed from the Drop Cysts.

They soon approached the territory of the colony.

Rustle, rustle. . .

The Xenotera, recognizing them as hostile beings, occasionally protruded their thorns or spat out digestive fluids, but the mobile strike force consisted entirely of troops who did not need to touch the ground thanks to their anti-gravity devices.

“Spread out the strike formation. Let’s wipe out those guys in front of us and finish this quickly.”

The mobile strike force had now reached the very front of the colony and spread out their formation horizontally. The plan was to use their abundant weaponry to eliminate the creatures guarding the front of the colony and then plant a particle bomb.

At that moment, a Chimeraz appeared in front of the colony swarm.

“Unknown object!”

It was a creature with a large, round head, a thick torso, legs that allowed it to walk on all fours, and a pointed mouth revealing sharp teeth, without any lips.

On both sides of its shoulders were tentacles that seemed to have burst out of swollen Gorrm, and on its back were clusters of pipe-like objects with a hard texture, extending upwards.

In short, it had an appearance that inspired disgust just by looking at it.

“I don’t know what it is, but there’s only one of them.”

“Open fire!”

The anti-gravity tank fired shells, the cluster drone troop deployed drones and fired bullets, the sniper took aim at the single unknown object and fired plasma, and the war machine launched grenades and small missiles.

Just 1 second, perhaps even less, was all the time needed for all the projectiles and missiles to reach their target.

Pwwwwwwwwww. . .!!!

At that moment, the unknown object in front of the swarm spewed out darkness.

“What the hell?”

As a field commander of the Chimeraz, it was a highly evolved individual with special abilities to protect the swarm.

It was ‘Mindrocker’.

“I can’t see anything. . .!”

“What’s going on?!”

“I definitely fired, but a strange phenomenon. . .”

“The communication channel is dead. . .”

Mindrocker had deployed a ‘bio-barrier’.

Inside the living black fog, the grenades became duds, and missiles exploded while simultaneously having their explosions darkly devoured. Plasma scattered at odd angles, and bullets fell to the ground with their speed and spin lost.

As if trapped in a nightmare, the mobile strike force let out a single, unified scream in the unreal sensation.

Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Mindrocker opened its mouth wide and let out a scream. And the surrounding Hounz, Cust, and Tritula moved.

The Hounz, which had rushed to the very front of the mobile strike force, swung their tail cutters or thrust their teeth in the darkness. The mobile strike force tried to respond by each taking out their military cutters, but their arms would not move quickly.

“I can’t see!!”

“It’s here. . .! It’s right in front of us now!”

“Ughhhhhhhhhhhh!”

When the cutters did not work, they fired their respective firearms again, but most of them malfunctioned before they even left the muzzle or barrel.

Stab!

Splash. . .!!!

On the other hand, Tritula’s bone awls flew quite effectively through the darkness of the bio-barrier.

“What the hell is this. . .!”

In the end, the Fayda mobile strike force, who became Mindrocker’s first victims, were swept away one by one in the unknown horror of the darkness.

➖Grow that colony until I sort out the fleet battle here. Mindrockers.

And so, Jiannettera managed to settle the colony.