CHAPTER 409: CHAPTER 352 AIR BATTLE_1

The preparations for war continued into winter. Anderson racked his brains to research the weapons of the Eternal Domain, and Yan Xing did the same with the weapons from Cloud Tower. Anderson had obtained several rifles from the Eternal Domain, while Yan Xing had managed to get his hands on some Charged Magic Wands. The difference was that Anderson couldn’t find a way to replicate the rifles, but Yan Xing, with the help of Goblins, had thoroughly studied the Charged Magic Wands.

Actually, these Charged Magic Wands were invented by Goblins and were one of the best-selling products of the Goblin Alchemy Factory. The Charged Magic Wands Yan Xing obtained had not undergone any modifications. Oh, those proud Mages of Cloud Tower!

The Charged Magic Wand was about one meter long, as thick as a rolling pin, with a crystal ball on its tip. The built-in magic array allowed the Charged Magic Wand to unleash offensive magical beams and defensive shields. Some adventurers liked to use the Charged Magic Wand as a quick-reaction emergency weapon. Goblins like Gaga could make Charged Magic Wands. However, because the cost was too high, Yan Xing did not choose such resource-wasting items as standard weapons.

Nevertheless, as an Alchemical Weapon that combined offense and defense, the Charged Magic Wand gave Yan Xing considerable inspiration. Could the principles and technology of the Magic Wand be used to create a multi-functional firearm?

Partial research results from the "Super Armaments" project allowed Yan Xing’s idea to be realized to a certain extent. A limited production firearm, exclusively equipped to the Gryphon Armor, was named the Poacher Composite Combat Rifle. Although the Poacher looked very similar to the rifles mass-equipped by the Eternal Domain’s army, it utilized brand-new integrated magic Alchemy Technology internally. The barrel, in particular, was made from a new type of Tao-style magic-conducting material developed by Chui Chui. Weapons made using this material were named "Magic Weapons."

As a precursor technology to "Super Armaments," "Magic Weapons" became an important research topic in the Eternal Domain Alchemy Laboratory. This battle was also the first time these "Magic Weapons" were tested in actual combat, with Chui Chui allocating most of its computational power to gather data on them.

A large-scale aerial battle erupted between the Eternal Domain and the Wildwind Principality. Yan Xing led a portion of the Armored Gryphons on high-speed flights around the outskirts of the battlefield, looking for opportune moments to attack. The aerial units of the Wildwind Principality knew they absolutely couldn’t catch up with the Gryphons equipped with high-speed alchemical armor, so they focused solely on the battle at hand. After all, a high-speed entry into their prepared aerial battlefield was a death sentence.

The Wildwind Principality’s aerial combat units still relied on heroes riding Gryphons to deploy force field shields, creating aerial obstacles that their air force could use to their advantage. However, without the support of airships, these aerial obstacles were not very large, though they were enough to weaken the enemy’s advantage and leverage their own strengths.

The Eternal Domain’s planes suffered considerable losses while covering the retreat of the Dive Bombers in this kind of battlefield. Some crashed into the force field shields and shattered, some had their wings snapped by Divine Beasts at close range, some were shot down by Mages on Gryphons, and others ventured too close to the fire clouds and were swept up by chaotic magical currents. The Dive Bomber squadron, eager to bombard the retreating enemy infantry, forced the escorting fighters into an unfavorable combat zone. Seizing the advantage, the Wildwind Principality’s air force began to push the front line forward.

The Eternal Domain’s heavy artillery was suppressing the Wildwind Principality’s heavy firepower points and could not clear the aerial obstacles. The fighters had to hold out a little longer until the heavy artillery was free to assist.

"Master, shall we utilize anti-aircraft firepower to support the aerial battlefield?" Chui Chui suggested to Yan Xing after witnessing significant losses among friendly fighters.

"No," Yan Xing firmly refused. "This is only the first day, and we should only engage with weapons that Anderson is aware of. This war is about buying time; we can’t let Anderson think he can’t defeat us. We can still bear these losses. Can we pinpoint the enemy’s heavy Magic Bombardment Devices?"

Chui Chui immediately replied, "Master, Anderson has deployed five large areas of war fog in their rear. Unless their heavy Magic Bombardment Devices fire, we cannot accurately locate them. Furthermore, their heavy Magic Bombardment Devices are protected by Defense Magic, making our artillery fire less effective."

"We still have too few cannons," Yan Xing mused. "After this battle, calculate how many cannons we’ll need to effectively suppress the enemy’s heavy Magic Bombardment Devices. Suppression is all we need."

"Yes, Master," Chui Chui responded. "Master, aerial combat data collection has reached ninety percent. I have already grasped the majority of the enemy’s aerial screen deployment tactics; the Armored Gryphons can now enter the battlefield."

The Wildwind Principality’s air force didn’t deploy their aerial screens haphazardly. Without good aerial communication, friendly aerial units had to memorize the locations of their own side’s screens to prevent collisions. Thus, through big data analysis, Chui Chui quickly mastered the enemy’s aerial screen deployment patterns. With these patterns identified, flight routes could be planned in advance.

Yan Xing addressed all friendly aerial combatants via the aerial combat communication channel: "Attention, everyone! Connect to the Aerial Combat Assistance System and update the scenario. The battlefield liaison officer will plan your flight routes in advance. All fighters are to avoid engaging with enemy Divine Beasts.

"The Armored Gryphons will shortly enter the battlefield. If you encounter a threat, move toward the Armored Gryphons under the guidance of the battlefield liaison officer. Dive Bombers, lower your altitude and stand by in the 4,000-meter airspace!"

After issuing the commands, Yan Xing wheeled his mount and led the Armored Gryphons toward the most intense area of the aerial battlefield. Inside his helmet, his entire field of view was filled with a holographic data display. Enemy and friendly aerial units, along with aerial screens, were all distinguished by different colors. Detailed data included the status of friendly aircraft and displays of pilots’ physiological conditions. There were readings for magic fluctuations in the airspace, and dangerously chaotic magical zones were clearly marked. Also displayed were the discovered positions of enemy Mages, the spells they had used, and a numerical analysis of their strength based on magical intensity.

...

Upon entering the aerial battlefield, the main engine power of the Armored Gryphons was reduced, while the auxiliary engines, which increased maneuverability, gradually powered up. This greatly improved their low-altitude, low-speed maneuverability.

Fei Ying, Yan Xing’s mount, took advantage of the Air Barriers generated by its hooves, performing various "wall-running" stunts in the air—its body running sideways, then upside down with feet above its head. Then, by releasing a wind field, it sent a Divine Beast tumbling in disarray.

Yan Xing aimed his rifle at a Divine Beast "caught" by Fei Ying thirty meters ahead. Even before his sights aligned, a voice in his ear confirmed target lock.

He pulled the trigger.

The firing pin struck the bullet’s primer, and the burning gunpowder generated pressure, propelling the projectile forward. The bullet, crafted from this magic-conducting material, accelerated down the bore. The rifle barrel, also made of this magic-conducting material, had an integrated magic array. This array inscribed shooting data into an integrated magic circle within the bullet, activating the inscribed magic circle the instant the bullet was fired.

Once the bullet left the barrel, it followed the predetermined trajectory. Accounting for lead time and environmental factors, the bullet precisely struck the Divine Beast’s control center and detonated.