Chapter 234 : Luck Was on Our Side!
Chapter 234: Luck Was on Our Side!
After making a stop at the royal capital for resupply, the long-range bomber fleet began its extended high-altitude flight, heading straight toward Varok State.
At the same time, the Alliance Navy officially set sail. According to differing mission objectives, the battleships were divided into three flagship formations in a 1+2+2 configuration.
The two dual-battleship flagship main fleets advanced respectively toward the deep-water ports of the Puente Kingdom and the Dimitria Theocracy.
The smaller fleet with a single battleship served as the route escort fleet, responsible for clearing out roaming enemies and providing naval gunfire support to land forces when necessary.
The Alliance forces designated for the initial landing from the Suriya Kingdom consisted of two reinforced divisions. Their mission was to reclaim lost territories near the Alliance-controlled regions.
Afterward, they would follow the railway network to secure energy facilities such as natural gas and oil fields within Suriya, awaiting the large-scale landing of additional allied forces.
Guided by signal markers left by special forces along the route, the aircraft fleet continuously adjusted its direction. After more than half a day of flight, they successfully approached within one hundred kilometers of Varok State.
[Preparing to enter observation range]
The lead pilot activated the radio and notified all crews to begin system checks. Within the massive formation, two squadrons split off and altered their flight paths, heading toward several military airfields and anti-air positions previously marked by special reconnaissance units to draw enemy fire.
Inside the cabin, the observer used mechanical targeting equipment to measure distance, making final preparations.
The air defense forces of Varok State also spotted the vast bomber formation across the horizon. Amid shrill air raid sirens, countless projectiles were launched toward the bomber fleet.
A large number of magic attacks—such as miniature wind blades, rocket-like projectiles, and ice spears—were fired from elevated magitech cannons at the anti-air positions, raining down like a storm. Their density was no less intense than that of machine gun fire.
War was the greatest catalyst for technological advancement. Whether in magical civilization or industrial civilization, both sides were frantically improving and creating more efficient killing machines.
This dense anti-air barrage was faithfully recorded by accompanying reconnaissance aircraft and transmitted back to headquarters as firsthand intelligence.
Under attack, intricate inscription circuits began lighting up across the bomber fuselages. Using the latest chemical metal etching method, magical arrays had been directly engraved onto steel plates and assembled onto the aircraft’s exterior.
Abandoning the previous spherical defensive shields, they had instead adopted a form that adhered closely to the aircraft surface. This not only increased coverage but also reduced the probability of being hit.
In the past, every aircraft carrying a large spherical shield meant that avoiding anti-air fire was more a matter of luck than skill.
Due to accuracy limitations, most of the anti-air barrage failed to hit the formation. Only a few grazed the bombers, but all were nullified by the outer inscription arrays.
Ignoring the anti-air fire below, the observer calmly said, [30 seconds to bomb release. Prepare for aircraft handover.]
The main pilot glanced at the instruments and replied, [Acknowledged. Making fine adjustments. Holding 155. Autopilot engaged. Control servos activated.]
[Pilot calling bombardier. Aircraft control is yours.]
“Roger. Bomb bay doors opening… Damn it! Watch out for anti-air artillery!!!”
As the bombardier pressed the safety release and rotated the switch, the massive belly bay doors of the B11 Flying Fortress slowly opened, and cylindrical bombs began dropping vertically under gravity.
“Bombing complete!”
Heavy napalm bombs fell freely toward the Varok positions below. In addition, some payloads used cluster munitions to disperse large numbers of small incendiary bombs.
One prioritized density, the other coverage—together blanketing the entire Varok City.
On the ground, magic shields of various sizes rose, attempting to block the burning napalm. Many shields glowed icy blue, clearly designed specifically to counter the Alliance’s incendiary weapons—but all of it was futile.
Before the invention of bunker-busting bombs, napalm was second only to armor-piercing shells in breaking shields. Its extreme heat rapidly depleted the energy sources of magical barriers.
By the time the leading bombers completed their mission, closed their bomb bays, and began climbing, the energy supply systems of Varok State’s magic shields had been drained and failed one after another. Familiar, piercing screams soon echoed across the skies.
Violent elemental explosions erupted from the anti-air positions. Ammunition depots and fuel storage sites became massive powder kegs, detonating in chain reactions under the intense heat of the napalm.
After this experience, it was certain that the Allied Nations would no longer store strategic materials on surface positions.
This was also why Mitia had insisted on waiting—some losses would only be suffered once. No matter what one did, one had to strike with the mindset of delivering a decisive blow.
The Alliance showed no regard for humanitarian restraint. Their opening strike consisted entirely of napalm and cluster bombs, purely maximizing lethality—after all, opportunities to use such weapons without restraint were rare.
“Captain, the flagship reports no trace of Alliance naval vessels…”
On the stormy sea, Captain Karavi held an Alliance-exported telescope, gazing into the dim horizon. At that moment, a messenger’s voice reached his ears.
Karavi frowned slightly but replied, “Understood. The rain is getting heavier, and visibility is too low. Maintain full combat readiness. Keep fleet communications stable. Relay the flagship’s signal to all ships.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Report! Extremely distant flashes resembling artillery fire have been detected ahead!!!”
Karavi’s expression shifted. He quickly put down the telescope and moved to the large onboard optical scope for observation. After a moment, he said, “Could it be lightning over the sea mistaken for artillery fire?”
The adjutant objected, “Captain, that might be possible under normal circumstances. But with the Alliance fleet dominating the open ocean right now, we must exercise utmost caution.”
Before the captain could respond, the messenger rushed in again. “The flagship has confirmed enemy vessels! Orders: our unit will act as the flagship of the main force. Execute the tactic—four ships forward to lure, six behind to seize the T-crossing position and engage!”
Karavi’s eyes lit up. “Previously, when deploying fleets for suppression, our main force could buy enough time to maneuver around and flank. This plan is feasible! It’s a perfect opportunity for a one-sided attack. Relay my orders—full speed ahead! Hard to port! Prepare starboard guns for firing!”
“Yes! Full speed ahead! Hard to port! Prepare starboard guns!”
Karavi turned back toward the rain-shrouded sea and murmured, “Strike first… Luck is on our side. We can win this battle.”
Just as the vanguard fleet of the Theocracy began accelerating, dense artillery shells rained down from the sky, engulfing the lead flagship within a central impact zone.
“This is bad—bracketing fire!”
The flagship commander had just formed that thought when two armor-piercing shells from the dense barrage slammed heavily into the cruiser. The 390-kilogram shells, carrying terrifying kinetic energy, easily penetrated the cruiser’s defenses and detonated inside, blasting a massive hole through the deck.