CHAPTER 420: CHAPTER 358 AIRBORNE FORTRESS_2

Fully focused.

Hit with every shot.

The shooter’s field of view.

Parallel shooting.

Orbital prediction.

...

Layers of magical states enveloped the entire artillery platform in spectrums of light.

The gunner chief had his whole head pressed against the sighting device, ceaselessly calling out data to the gunner.

At a certain moment, he shouted, "Fire!"

A roar erupted within the cabin.

The massive recoil caused the aircraft to shift laterally.

Fortunately, the aircraft’s structure, reinforced with composite materials and magic, was sturdy enough to quickly stabilize its flight attitude.

The spent shell casing ejected and clattered to the ground, as a new shell was loaded into the chamber.

The last shot had veered off target, but not by much.

The gunner chief reported new data, and the gunner continued to furiously crank the wheel.

"Fire!"

Another roar, and the cabin shook violently. The aircraft dropped several tens of meters before regaining balance.

The gun crew was so frightened they didn’t dare to fire again.

Soon Chui Chui spoke over the crew’s communication channel, "Please rest assured, the aircraft’s flight status is still under control.

"I have identified the aircraft’s corresponding reactions when firing; it was just a bit excessive earlier.

"We are now entering the firing course. You may continue to fire."

The main gun’s gunner chief looked at Yan Xing standing at the cabin door.

Facing the wind rushing in, Yan Xing nodded and said, "Continue firing... That last shot was very close. Aim to completely destroy the target with this one."

"Yes, master."

The gunner chief, leaning over the sighting equipment, added a few more status spells to himself.

The gun crew coordinated to aim.

Following another roar, the fired shell drew a beam of light, hitting the target right beneath the balloon.

Amidst the fiery blast, wooden debris splattered in all directions. Without the weight pulling it down, the balloon flew upwards.

"Hit!" the gun crew shouted.

This time, the impact on the aircraft was noticeably less. It only wobbled slightly before regaining its balance.

Yan Xing was pleased too and encouraged them, "Well done. You are indeed the first main gun crew of the airborne fortress I picked out.

"That balloon is a moving target. Do you have the confidence to blast it?"

"We have confidence, master!" the gun crew affirmed, their morale boosted.

They immediately took aim at the ascending balloon.

The first shot was to adjust aim.

The second shot blasted the balloon out of the sky.

Next, the airborne fortress proceeded with real moving target shooting exercises in the air.

It started with simple low-speed large targets and gradually increased in difficulty, even mimicking environmental conditions in aerial combat.

The entire crew of the airborne fortress participated, assisting with the main gun’s operation.

Several Armored Gryphons, playing the role of Divine Beasts, approached the airborne fortress.

Four defensive machine guns fired at the approaching "enemies" from different directions while the fortress also performed high-overload maneuvers frequently.

Defensive magic flashed repeatedly.

The difficulty of the main gun’s shooting rose to "hell level."

This truly tested the coordination of the entire crew and the gun team.

The pilot had to constantly be aware of the target’s and his own position while evading attacks, creating opportunities and the right angles for shooting.

And the gun crew had to take aim and fire within those brief moments.

As the difficulty rose, the hit rate of the shells dropped sharply.

But one couldn’t be too demanding.

After all, with the new aircraft and new crew members, many aspects still needed to be harmonized.

After completing the main gun test, the main turret retracted into the cabin via the rail system, and the secondary guns moved to firing positions.

The role of the secondary guns was to utilize their extreme firepower output to carry out air-to-ground suppression missions.

They mainly targeted the ground, belting stubborn enemies with a relentless hail of fire.

During the test, Chui Chui, who personally took on the role of the pilot, wrote the airborne fortress’s combat flight programs on the spot.

Alchemical robots could download these programs to become pilots of the air fortress.

Training the Aerial Cavalry allowed for the cultivation of formal crew members for the air fortress.

After completing all test procedures, Air Fortress 001 began its return flight.

Overall, Yan Xing was very satisfied with the test of the first air fortress, even feeling that it surpassed his own expectations.

After all, it was a weapon made in haste. To have such high performance standards was really beyond any further demands.

Before the plane had even landed, Yan Xing requested batch production.

Start with five, to supplement the frontlines with missing air combat platforms.

While manufacturing the current air fortresses, the alchemists in Eternal Domain’s Alchemy Laboratory and the Goblin Engineers were to proceed with the development of the next-generation air fortress.

Based on the original blueprints of the air fortress, this would be a comprehensive aerial combat platform.

Currently, it only met the minimum requirements for offensive and defensive capabilities.

Future models of the air fortress would need enhanced magic deployment abilities, beyond-visual-range strike capabilities, all-around early warning capabilities, and air campaign-level command abilities...

After the development of magitech, Yan Xing had very high expectations for this air superiority platform.

However, before the air fortress had even landed, Chui Chui issued a warning to Yan Xing, "Master, the forces of Wildwind Principality are once again launching an attack on our positions.

"A single airship, under the cover of 4 other airships, 98 Divine Beasts, and 274 Griffons, is attempting to break through our controlled airspace.

"The frontline air force is engaging them, and the Outpost Fort is requesting air support."

The radar installed in the Outpost Fort allowed Eternal Domain to be immediately aware of any movement in the skies.

Thus, as soon as the Wildwind Principality’s airships made a move, the Outpost Fort immediately went into combat mode.

The request for assistance was also sent to the battlefield liaison, Chui Chui.

Yan Xing’s prediction for the timing of Anderson’s attack was not far off.

He had even considered the possibility that Anderson might send an airship on a "suicide mission."

After all, when airships went unused, their symbolic significance outweighed their utility on the battlefield.

Last time, Anderson had wanted to send 3 airships to probe, but he ultimately couldn’t bear the loss and retreated.

But without testing whether Eternal Domain had the ability to take down airships, Anderson would not be content.

That was why Yan Xing was in such a hurry to deploy the air fortress.

Upon hearing news of the attack by Wildwind Principality, Yan Xing ordered the air fortress to halt its landing.

The crew checked the magic energy and ammunition reserves and confirmed that they could participate in the battle.

Yan Xing then ordered Air Fortress 001 to turn its nose and head straight for the Outpost Fort battlefield.

As they passed over Eternal City, various flying units—Shadow Flyers, Armored Gryphons, Gryphon Fighter Jets, Deer Hunter Dive Bombers, Beak Eagle Bombers, and others—all heading to support the Outpost Fort, merged into a large aerial formation following behind the air fortress.

「The battlefield at the Outpost Fort.」

Anderson stood in the command gondola of the airship, looking down at the entire battlefield from the air.

The news of the war between Silvermane Principality and Gryphon Heart Empire had already reached Storm City.

Anderson’s once good reputation in Silvermane Principality vanished overnight, and various vulgar stories related to him were circulating within the principality.

Defamation is very shameless, but also very effective.

But Anderson didn’t care about these things and was too lazy to listen.

He had anticipated these tactics.

Infamy only sticks to losers.

The victor’s halo sweeps all malicious words into the sewer.

He was more concerned about the war between the principality and the Empire.

If the Silver Mane Duke defeated Gryphon Heart Empire, then his Beak Eagle Bombers would be seen in the skies above Storm City.

As for the current state of war... the mighty Gryphon Heart Empire seemed to be collapsing at the slightest touch.

The military support from Cloud Tower for the Empire was indeed a bit delayed.

It also didn’t seem as generous as the support for Wildwind Principality.

This wasn’t because the Mages of Cloud Tower were reluctant to provide military aid. They simply had no understanding of what war was.

A group of the world’s most powerful alchemists, yet utterly naïve about military affairs.

They were only fixated on Wildwind Highlands, completely oblivious to the spiraling situation and the impending major reshuffle of the world’s order.

This time, Anderson had resolved to send one airship on a breakthrough mission.

If Eternal Domain was all bark and no bite, then all airships would launch an all-out attack, crushing the enemy’s main force in one battle.

March into Eternal City.

If Yan Xing truly had means to counter airships, it would also be an opportunity for the Mages of Cloud Tower to "humble" themselves a bit.

To win... they’ll have to bring out more Alchemical Weapons.

And court even more allies.