"The enemy fleet hasn't moved."
Looking at the dot on the radar, Hank could not help but fall into deep thought.
The enemy did not notice the existence of the probe, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.
However, if the enemy did not move, then Hank must choose to take the initiative to attack. In this way, he had to consider whether the enemy would take the opportunity to use some legendary magic scroll.
However, if the confrontation continued, he did not know how long it would take …
Fortunately, Hank didn't have to worry about this problem very soon.
"Commander, the enemy has begun to move!"
"Situation report!"
After hearing the report from the messenger, Hank immediately pulled himself together and asked.
"The First Fleet is assembling … They are rushing in our direction at a very fast speed!"
What are they trying to do?
Hearing this report, Hank immediately frowned. If the task force wanted to launch a surprise attack, then Hank could still understand.
After all, the wolf pack strategy was focused on speed, but the First Fleet was not the task force. This was not only a division of responsibilities, but also a gap in performance.
The task force that enhanced speed was originally different from the First Fleet that specialized in combat. Perhaps even if the First Fleet advanced at full speed, their speed would not reach the level of the task force …
"What about the task force?"
"While the First Fleet moved, we detected that five warships left at the fastest speed and then left the probe's remote sensing range. We can't capture their traces for the time being!"
To be able to escape the remote sensing range so quickly, the five battleships that separated behind them should belong to the task force. He didn't know if they were planning to create a diversion or do something else, but no matter what, since the other party had already taken action, he had to respond … The other party was aggressive and advancing at full speed. Although he didn't know what exactly they wanted to do, he was sure that the other party should be planning to engage in a melee battle.
If that was the case, then he must not let the enemy succeed!
Thinking of this, Hank also immediately issued an order.
"Order the Disaster-grade and Paladin-grade main cannons to open fire immediately after locking on to the enemy!
Be sure to block them outside the range of the first firing point. Mania-grade and Contribute-grade aim at the second firing circle and be ready to fire at any time. After the target enters the second firing circle, fire at will without asking.
Fire at will and try to attack and destroy the target warship!
Don't hesitate, don't retreat! "
"It seems that the enemy is aggressive."
Looking at Hank giving orders on the screen, Doronte also chuckled.
"Do you need my help?"
"Get the Messenger to wait at the rear. The other party's desperate actions make me feel very uneasy. If we can't stop the other party after breaking through two layers of firepower, then order the entire fleet to immediately warp away."
Hank wasn't afraid of being called a coward. Those who weren't cowards had all died in the face of a Legendary spell. He was rather worried that the man was going to fight him to the death.
If the other party was really thinking of pulling one to make a profit while pulling two, then it would be a huge loss for him. Whether it was firepower or range, he was much stronger than the other party.
Under such circumstances, Hank was extremely unwilling to be captured and killed by the enemy.
That was why he had decided to order the entire fleet to immediately warp back to their original location once he discovered any signs of trouble.
Anyway, the destruction of the dynasty's fleet was only a matter of time. There was no need to waste his strength.
"If you're so worried, you can get the Heretics ready to attack."
"What you mean is …"
Upon hearing Doronte's suggestion, Hank couldn't help but be taken aback.
"You mean the two battleships?
But their system hasn't been tested yet … "
"Actual combat is the best testing ground. Didn't you hear what Miss Pattilina said? If we don't know if this thing is useful, we'll just find an enemy and stab them.
Besides, wasn't the Heretics created for this?
Since you're so worried, why don't you try it out? "
"… Okay."
Upon hearing this, Hank finally nodded.
"Get the two Heretics out of the formation and grant them the communication key. Wait for my order to activate it."
Hank said, gazing at the screen in front of him again. At that moment, the First Fleet had entered the firing range.
Gazing at the flickering light spots, Hank paused for a few moments, before issuing an order.
"Fire."
A dazzling flash streaked across the darkness, flying from the other side of the horizon and striking the battleships. In the blink of an eye, flames mixed with thick smoke rushed toward them, dyeing the entire sky red.
"What's going on?!"
Seeing that the battleship in front of him was hit, Captain Burke shouted loudly, and then a soldier quickly ran over.
"Sir, we're under attack!"
But before he finished his sentence, Barque interrupted him snappily.
"Of course I know we're under attack!
But where are the enemies?
Why didn't the vanguard report this?!
Where are the griffins?
What are the griffin knights doing?
Find the enemies and launch a counterattack! "
"Sir, we didn't discover any enemies. The bombardment came from the other side of the horizon!"
"What did you say?"
Upon hearing the griffin knight's reply, Captain Barque was taken aback. He lifted his head hurriedly and at the same time, as though responding to the griffin knight's report, Captain Barque witnessed a bright flash on the horizon in the distance. In the blink of an eye, a beam of light whizzed over and struck the magic warship ahead. The eruption of magical aura blasted the unfortunate warship into smithereens from the middle. The entire deck and the soldiers standing on it were blasted into the sky. Looking at this scene, Barque turned ashen.
Even though he knew that the metal warships were powerful, he didn't expect them to have such a long range. If this continued, perhaps they would be annihilated before reaching the enemies!
At this thought, Barque ordered without hesitation.
"All warships, activate the high-grade magical barrier!"
"But Captain, the high-grade magical barrier has a limited duration. We …"
"Replenish it if it's ineffective!
Don't be stingy!
At the same time, inform the fleet to advance at full speed! "
Along with Barque's command, one after another, azure semi-circular barriers emerged on the Magic Empire's warships. Shortly after, the warships charged forward like arrows released from the bowstrings.
"Sir, the enemies have passed the first firing point!"
The bombardment intensified. As the First Fleet advanced, light spots flooded the sky like a rainstorm. They rained down from the sky, bombarding the azure barriers of the magic warships.
Under the continuous bombardment of the cannons, the Advanced Magic Barrier began to show signs of crumbling.
Cracks gradually appeared on the transparent, glass-like barrier, but even so, Balck's face didn't reveal the slightest trace of worry or fear.
On the contrary, he revealed a smile.
The fiercer the enemy's bombardment, the more it meant that they had taken the bait.
Even though Barque hoped to get closer, as long as he could restrain the enemy's firepower and keep them occupied, the rest … would depend on Christoph.
Something's wrong!
Hank grew increasingly alarmed at the sight of the enemies charging forward despite facing such fierce bombardment.
Even though there were no movements in the surroundings, he was still worried.
It was especially so for the warships that disappeared outside the probe's range. This worried Hank even more.
In this case … Seems like I have no choice but to follow Doronte's suggestion and use that.
At this thought, Hank immediately turned on the communication circuit and issued an order.
"Stop the enemy fleet from advancing. Activate the stasis network!"
Along with Hank's command, the two heretic-class warships hovering in the night sky like ghosts revealed themselves slowly. Then, they faced the front and fired a blue light beam. The blue light beam flew into the clouds and struck the hidden probes.
Shortly after, it reappeared on the other side of the probes and continued forward. Shortly after, several faint light beams connected the probes in the sky. Then, magical runes emerged, coalesced, and aligned into gentle, ice-cold magical symbols.
At the next moment, a circular halo erupted, swirled, and expanded, shrouding the advancing First Fleet.
At the same time …
"— — —"
Captain Barque widened his eyes in astonishment. He didn't even realize that the cigarette butt in his mouth had fallen to the ground.
The rumbling sounds from the magical crystals and ritual arrays, as well as the bombardment of the cannons, were nowhere to be seen.
At a glance, the surroundings were in complete silence. Even the lights on the warships were extinguished entirely, leaving only pitch-black silence.
What's going on?
Am I dead?
No, this is …
At this thought, Barque was taken aback as though he realized something. Almost at the same time, he heard a shrill scream.
"Anti-magic force field!
The enemy has activated the anti-magic force field! "
Upon hearing the scream, Barque felt as though he had fallen into an ice cellar.
Although it wasn't that he hadn't foreseen his failure, he hadn't expected that his failure would actually appear in such a terrifying manner under such circumstances.