The command chamber of the flagship of the Kartnod family fleet was spacious and brightly lit.
Holographic screens and visualization systems beyond imagination filled the room. Dimensional maps of the entire planet floated with millimetric precision as Kaisel Kartnod observed them, surrounded by his admirals; all awaiting the orders and instructions they were to follow.
One of the officers operating a control panel spoke.
—We have connected to their communication network. With this, we can identify the points where they are strongest in this era. The political and territorial distribution has changed.
Kaisel nodded slightly. They did not know the current names. To him, this world was something entirely new.
He finally spoke, studying the maps that displayed the planet's present-day configuration.
—We will divide the armada into four routes. According to these maps of this time, the Yamashiro Division of twenty ships will advance through here. They call it the Asian Pacific. This used to be a region of little importance… but now it appears to be a very powerful area.
He pointed to another region of the hologram.
—The Treiken unit of forty ships will split into two forces. One will cross the ocean in this direction, toward what they call the northern part of the American continent. The other will skirt this entire area and move toward the south of the same continent, but from the opposite side, at this position. In that place, there must be one of our bases —he said, indicating the territory of Brazil.
Admiral Ilyan Sereth examined another section of the map with visible displeasure.
—The third will head straight to attack this area. They call it the "Russian northeast"… The Sevianko bases have always been there.
Those damned ones. He said it with a furious tone.
Kaisel continued:
—And the main fleet will come with me to this place. Where our mansion should always have stood. We will go to free the rest of our family.
Around him, Admirals Ferdinan Voss, Kael Draxor, Ilyan Sereth, and Morvak Hale nodded without objection. The orders were clear. They would strike on multiple fronts simultaneously.
Hours later, the first Kartnod vanguard had already passed Japan's defenses and was approaching the coast of China.
Chinese coastal radar detected them.
At the Yellow Sea Naval Command Center, Admiral Li Wei stood before the main screen as the anomalies appeared. The energy signatures matched nothing known.
—Confirm origin and possible trajectory —he ordered firmly.
Commander Zhang Rui, radar specialist, responded:
—Multiple objects approaching. Constant speed.
Silence.
—Then it's real —murmured Captain Chen Guoxiang.
There was no time for political or diplomatic debate. The order came immediately:
—Full mobilization. Deploy the fleet to intercept. They will not reach our shores.
The first Karnot fleet ships broke through the sea's surface. Their massive structures caused astonishment even from a distance. Angular, without recognizable markings, they radiated energy that interfered with communications.
Vice Admiral Wang Jian led the first group of Chinese destroyers. Alongside him sailed frigates, submarines, and aerial support units. Modern human technology facing something clearly superior.
On the command bridge, strategist Lin Xiaoyu spoke over the internal channel without taking her eyes off the tactical display.
—We were warned about this. That fleet destroyed Japan in less than a day… but this is our coast. Our cities are here, our people. We are not here to negotiate or retreat. We are here to defend what is ours, whatever the cost.
Admiral Li Wei responded firmly:
—Then let them come. Let them know this nation does not surrender. Every meter they try to take will cost them dearly. Today we resist… and we will resist together.
The first shot was fired by an enemy ship. It crossed the sky like a blue lightning bolt.
A Chinese destroyer exploded within seconds.
No warning.
No negotiation.
The battle began.
The Chinese fleet responded with everything available: hypersonic missiles, guided torpedoes, heavy naval artillery, and combat drones.
For about forty minutes, it seemed they could maintain distance. Some enemy ships even showed visible damage.
But the technological gap soon became evident.
The energy and magical barriers protecting the Karnot family fleet were unreal. They absorbed impacts that would have destroyed any conventional vessel. Their targeting systems were nearly flawless. Their projectiles pierced armor as if it were paper.
The damage ratio became brutal.
—We won't be able to hold this much longer —Chen Guoxiang warned.
—We must buy time —Li Wei replied—. We are here so that those on land can prepare for the real battle.
Chinese naval aviation then entered the fight. Entire squadrons of fighters launched coordinated attacks to saturate the enemy shields.
One squadron managed to damage the flagship. Its sensors shut down for several seconds. The invading fleet reduced speed to reorganize.
That brief delay changed everything.
On land, Chinese coastal batteries activated simultaneously. Anti-ship missiles, experimental electromagnetic cannons, and air defense systems saturated the area.
They could not destroy them.
But they did force them to retreat.
And that meant time.
The battle turned into a war of endurance.
What remained of the Chinese fleet withdrew without breaking formation. Every minute gained allowed coastal cities to evacuate, defenses to be prepared, and the international response to be coordinated.
In the main chamber, Kael Draxor reviewed the reports.
—They are persistent. They have no magic or technology comparable to ours… yet they have forced us back.
Ferdinan Voss replied:
—That makes them dangerous. We must not underestimate them.
Meanwhile, Kaisel Karnot listened to the full report without showing the slightest reaction.
—Interesting —he said calmly—. These new generations are not what I expected.
He looked once more at the holographic map.
—So they call it Ireland now —he murmured to himself as he observed the projection.
And in a distant chamber, Valerios smiled.
The war was only beginning.
Everything was unfolding according to my plan.