bookbashuk Chapter 19: Empty City
Chapter 19: Empty City
Abaddon brought a total of 12 Thunderhawk gunships from the Vengeance Soul, a full squadron, which should have allowed Horus's flagship to unleash its full force of these new fighters.
Of course, only the more agile and swift Thunder Eagle could accomplish such a difficult task.
Even with only the Thinker Array's automated defense system, the cumbersome and slow Stormbird fighters would be annihilated against the Tyrant's almost impenetrable and fierce firepower.
The fact that the Thunderhawk was able to reach the final defensive line area near the bridge with only half its original strength is already a remarkable achievement.
However, neither Abaddon nor Sun Qian were satisfied with the result.
Abaddon knew very well that the area near the bridge was a key protected zone, with an additional medium-sized void shield force field set up, making it extremely difficult for just six Thunderhawks to achieve their objective.
Sun Qian knew very well that even if only one Thunder Eagle could reach the bridge, it could deliver a fatal blow to him. These six Thunder Eagles were still giving the enemy too much leeway.
However, there was one thing they both agreed on—
Only one person can survive today.
"Rush!"
With Abaddon's command, the six Thunderhawks launched their final assault on the bridge.
Whoosh! !
Sun Qian immediately activated the first line of defense—dozens of "Hydra" anti-aircraft missiles were launched from the missile pod. These missiles, capable of precise guidance and multiple directional changes, locked onto the six Thunder Eagles speeding towards them.
However, these Thunder Eagles did not need any command. They quickly dispersed and flew in an interlaced manner, cooperating perfectly to intercept the missiles that were tracking them.
Sun Qian narrowed his eyes slightly. Sure enough, every one of Abaddon's men was a top-tier pilot and sniper; this kind of missile couldn't possibly hit them. However...
Bang! Crash—
When one of the missiles was hit, the explosion was not only exceptionally spectacular, but it also spread out a large black cloud dotted with countless flashes of light.
Crackle—Boom!
One of the Thunderhawks was unable to dodge and crashed head-on into the dark cloud. The hull was instantly riddled with countless sieve-like holes before it exploded and fell to the ground.
This was Sun Qian's real killing move. He had replaced part of the missile head with high-explosive fragmentation shells in advance. The target was not to hit directly, but to create a wall of tungsten alloy fragments in the air.
Then several more fragmented clouds exploded, but having learned from their teammates' previous experience, the other Thunderhawks slowed down and increased their distance in advance.
However, one of the Thunderhawk gunboats, through extremely dangerous maneuvers, managed to break through the gap between the two dark clouds at full speed.
That was Abaddon's Thunderhawk.
"You took advantage of my familiarity with the defense system? That's certainly commendable, but you still underestimate me, brat!"
Abaddon maneuvered the Thunderhawk with fluid grace, a hint of excitement even gracing his muscular, fierce face.
"I took advantage of your arrogance, Abaddon."
Although no communication line was established, Sun Qian could guess what the other party was thinking.
He gripped the control levers with both hands and forcefully pulled the trigger button.
Rat-a-tat-tat!!!
The Gatling gun turrets on both sides spat out dazzling tongues of fire, and an incredibly dense rain of bullets enveloped the lone Abaddon.
Abaddon then realized that the enemy's real purpose was to isolate him from his teammates and then focus fire on him, who was already severely wounded.
Having just taken some damage from the Void Shield generator detonation at close range, the Thunderhawk gunship's Void Shield appears extremely vulnerable. It's estimated that within seconds, this ferocious firepower will overload the Void Shield, tearing the gunship and Abaddon apart.
Whoosh—Boom!
But at that moment, something unexpected happened to Sun Qian.
Two Thunderhawk gunboats accelerated through the cloud of debris. They should have been destroyed and detonated by countless tungsten alloy fragments, but the wreckage, engulfed in flames, crashed into the turrets like meteors.
"You're the arrogant one, Sun Qian!"
Abaddon let out a hoarse growl, then pushed the speed control stick to its limit.
"Do you think you're the only one willing to risk your life?! Don't underestimate us!"
After the remaining two Thunderhawks bypassed the fragmented black cloud, they were slightly delayed but still followed Abaddon, who had gone ahead, and rushed toward the bridge together.
However, just as it was about to approach the last Void Shield on the bridge, Abaddon suddenly forced a reverse jet to slow down.
Buzzing!!!
Two crimson lasers shot out from inside the Void Shield, narrowly missing Abaddon's Thunderhawk.
Abaddon knew exactly what it was. It was the multi-beam laser defense grid that he had personally requested the Mechanicus to install. The laser beams, with no flight delay, could cut through any machine with ease at extremely high speeds, like a scalpel, under the direct control of the Thinker Array.
Because passing through the Void Shield requires slowing down, and slowing down makes it impossible to avoid the laser's lock-on, this is almost an insurmountable barrier.
But Abaddon laughed.
Since it was a defense system he was personally in charge of, he naturally knew the only way to break through it.
"Go! For the God of Shepherds!"
As soon as Abaddon finished speaking, one of the Thunderhawks behind him rushed toward the Void Shield at full speed, seemingly with no intention of slowing down.
Moreover, as the Thunder Eagle flew, its own void shield gradually emitted a dazzling light—
boom!!!
The moment Thunderhawk collided with and detonated the Void Shield, his own Void Shield engine was overloaded and detonated almost simultaneously.
Only two Thunderhawks remain.
But in reality, one is enough.
The dark blue warp lightning spread outwards, and Abaddon charged into the smoke and dust of the explosion without hesitation.
"I have to thank you for this, Sun Qian. You reminded me of the consequences of the Void Shield Generator overload detonation."
Abaddon grinned as he piloted the Thunderhawk out of the smoke and dust. He and the bridge were so close that they could see each other clearly.
Due to the severe distortion of the surrounding space, the laser was temporarily unable to lock onto Abaddon's Thunderhawk.
Meanwhile, Abaddon's manually aimed weapon had successfully locked onto the bridge.
At the moment he pressed the fire button, Abaddon even felt a pang of regret.
I never imagined that a low-ranking sergeant would push himself to this point.
Moreover, he had already seen that Sun Qian was alone on the bridge.
This kid, at least he's got some backbone.
call out! ! !
0.01 seconds later, two thermoelectric missiles mounted under the wings of the Thunderhawk roared toward the bridge.
It's a pity you chose the wrong side.
Just as Abaddon was already considering how to get the Tyrant back into space after he recaptured it...
biu——
With a flash of blue light, the two missiles seemed to be gently brushed aside by the hand of a god, flying almost close to the bridge and heading into the distance.
Inside the bridge, Sun Qian, who had just narrowly escaped death, seemed confident and even closed his eyes, avoiding looking at Abaddon's Thunderhawk.
In reality, he was staring intently at the new card ability trigger effects displayed on the system panel in his mind.
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Skill: Empty City - LV1
Effect: When there are no units within a radius of 9 zhang, 9 chi, and 9 cun for the [Standard Version Zhuge Liang] character, and no other character cards are used.
[Standard Version - Zhuge Liang] cannot be the target of any attack.