[1]Opening Strike
Three unidentified aircraft shot through the clouds like high-speed javelins, their metal howls slicing the air.
Their hulls gleamed with dark-gold paint, the leading edges of their wings lined with dense rhombic armor plates that flashed with blinding light at every turn.
These were the exclusive interceptors of the Empire's Sky Hunt Division—"Raven-class" Interceptors.
In Lin Yeheng's view, the red weak-point marker on the No. 2 unit's propulsion ring pulsed like a beating heart.
R-01 suddenly pulled up, the Roar's wings vibrating with a deep metallic growl as the air around it warped into heat-hazed vortices.
Hermes: [Propulsion lock—countdown: three seconds.]
Lin Yeheng barked, "On it."
Three seconds later, the Limiting-Edge Warblade swept across the sky, its blade edge igniting in sync with the high-heat side effect—
Krak!
Heat raced along the blade, climbing up the cooling interface of the propulsion ring like a burning fracture tearing open the Raven's life.
No. 2's tail flame exploded, propulsion failing; it spun out of control like a bird with its wings torn off.
---
[2]Chain Lock
Raven No. 1 immediately banked hard, trying to seal off R-01's pursuit path with machine-gun fire.
The belt-fed rounds poured out like streams of steel, hammering R-01's armor and throwing out showers of sparks as sensors flickered white.
Lin Yeheng sneered, "Hermes, next target."
Hermes: [Target marked—right-wing outer stabilizer control rod. Destroying it will cause lateral instability.]
Slamming the pedals, Lin Yeheng sent R-01 rolling through the gaps in the barrage, surging forward like a low-flying shell toward the enemy's underbelly.
The Warblade skimmed the tip of the enemy's wing, slicing through the main axis of the stabilizer in one swift motion.
No. 1 lurched violently, like a beast whose nerves had been severed, spinning out of control in mid-air.
---
[3]High-Altitude Kill
The last, No. 3 unit didn't retreat—instead, it climbed above Lin Yeheng and dove in.
The energy pulse cannon under its belly charged to full, and Hermes instantly warned: [Pulse strength—capable of piercing R-01's chest armor!]
Lin Yeheng shouted, "Baita, jam it!"
Baita had already deployed micro-drones into the propulsion trail of No. 3, detonating two high-frequency jamming charges.
An electromagnetic pulse disrupted the target's guidance system in an instant, its targeting reticle trembling violently.
Seizing the opening, Lin Yeheng sent R-01 surging upward, the Warblade drawing a clean arc across the interceptor's belly.
The moment of high-heat cutting—armor plates split, and the energy conduits inside ruptured, spewing blue-white flames from the wound—
No. 3 fell like a burning meteor, dragging a fiery tail down into the wasteland beyond.
---
[4]Aftermath of the Hunt
In just thirty seconds, the Sky Hunt Division was wiped out.
Three pillars of black smoke rose on the horizon, unfurling into a dark curtain in the wind.
Hermes: [Tactical module combat record saved—Efficiency rating: S-. Recommendation: upgrade to full-authorization mode to further increase weak-point analysis speed.]
Steadying his breath, Lin Yeheng looked through the HUD toward the horizon.
There, the glow of the Crystalline Core was dimming, and deeper shadows were beginning to stir.
Baita murmured, "Yeheng, this is only the beginning."
Lin Yeheng: "Yeah. And the rest—leave none standing."
R-01 folded its wings and banked away, trailing the lingering scent of battle as it flew toward the deeper warzone.