"The target's electromagnetic spectrum has disappeared. Please assess."
"Target confirmed shot down. No threats remain in the airspace ahead."
Over the East Sea, the roar of escort fighters' machine-gun fire rang out without cease.
Seraph-class Honkai Beasts were suppressed by overwhelming firepower and fell one after another into the ocean.
A massive shadow moved slowly across the sea's surface. The enormous MOTH battleship hovered above the East Sea, advancing toward the origin of the Third Honkai Eruption.
Unlike the previous military fighter jets, this newly launched state-of-the-art floating battleship was the true flagship MOTH intended to use against the Honkai Eruption. The forces previously dispatched to Nagazora City had merely been an advance reconnaissance unit.
Now, the main fleet pressing toward Nagazora City was the crystallization of humanity's technological might.
First, the propulsion system. This floating battleship was equipped with the cutting-edge propulsion system newly developed by the research division—controlled nuclear fusion drive.
The controlled nuclear fusion reactor was spherical in shape, its surface covered with thick protective layers to prevent leakage. Within its core region were densely arranged thousands of fusion reactor cores. By regulating the operating state of these cores, the nuclear reaction could proceed continuously in a controlled manner.
The high-temperature plasma generated by fusion was accelerated and expelled, producing thrust through nozzle reaction force. Its kinetic output was dozens of times greater than that of fuel-powered turbine engines.
The entire propulsion system required highly precise control and regulation. But once functioning normally, it provided extraordinary propulsion efficiency and long-term stable energy—enough to lift a ten-thousand-ton steel behemoth the size of a destroyer into the sky.
The battleship's main cannon was immense and formidable. Dozens of circular energy focusers surrounded its exterior. At its center, a massive black barrel ran straight through the entire structure. Intricate patterns were engraved across its surface, symbolizing the vessel's glory and authority.
"AWACS radar has detected a large target signal. Currently submerged at approximately two hundred feet, moving southeast at twenty knots... All maritime units, evade immediately. The target is approaching you!"
"Rooooar—!"
The abyssal titan rose from the sea. Its colossal body heaved with each breath, standing amid the ocean like a mountain range.
Its towering frame, hundreds of feet high, surged forward with monstrous waves, as though tearing up the blue skin of the earth itself before crashing down toward the battleship.
Half a century ago, humanity could only have looked upon such a titan in despair—perhaps attempting repeated nuclear bombardment, destroying the enemy at the cost of devastating themselves.
But humanity now possessed the technology to strike back.
The floating battleship's heavy particle main cannon completed its charge in an instant. The focusing rings lit up in sequence. A crimson beam composed of particles tore through the tidal wave like a giant sword and pierced straight through the titan Honkai Beast's body.
Cracks spread from the gaping hole in its abdomen. The abyssal Honkai Beast's massive form shattered and collapsed, crashing heavily onto the sea's surface.
This was the first-generation subatomic-class main cannon newly developed by MOTH's engineering division. Just as the atomic bomb had once shaken the world, subatomic-class weaponry heralded a new revolution in arms.
So-called subatomic-class weapons were built upon the foundation of nuclear arms. Through more advanced technological means, they controlled the release of nuclear energy within a smaller scope, achieving greater precision and destructive force while reducing collateral harm to the surrounding environment and personnel.
Compared to traditional nuclear weapons, subatomic-class arms could destroy targets while minimizing casualties and damage to nearby areas and innocent civilians.
Under subatomic-class firepower, thick steel and thin tissue paper were indistinguishable. Almost no material could withstand such an assault.
This was the source of confidence among MOTH's upper ranks. Having already eliminated two Herrschers, no one doubted the might of human technology. Any enemy would be reduced to ashes beneath humanity's artillery—just like the abyssal titan before them.
Captain Pierce of the fusion-powered MOTH battleship watched the heavy particle cannon's kill with satisfaction.
That titan far exceeded anything recorded in MOTH's archives. Its durability was obvious, and its Honkai energy level had reached one thousand gigawatts. In the past, it would have required enormous time and effort to handle.
Pierce had expected the cannon to merely repel the beast. Instead, it had pierced straight through with a single shot.
The power of subatomic-class weapons was truly terrifying. Pierce had only read about them in reports before. Witnessing their might firsthand, he finally understood that a new era of military revolution had truly arrived.
Of course, if the charging time were too long, it would become little more than a decorative burden, greatly reducing its tactical value.
He turned to the young operator.
"How long until the heavy particle generator can recharge?"
"We have a continuous energy supply thanks to the controlled nuclear fusion propulsion system. Recharge time is only ten minutes, sir."
"Excellent. Excellent!"
Deeply satisfied, Pierce clapped his hands lightly. For a long time, he had been dissatisfied with MOTH's naval artillery. What era was this, and they were still using main guns invented a thousand years ago?
Were they weak? Not exactly—they could handle fortified positions and medium Honkai Beasts that machine guns could not.
Were they strong? Not really—launching a missile was more precise and practical.
In short, modern naval cannons had become little more than ornamental relics, symbolic fixtures mounted for tradition's sake. That was why Pierce had never expected them to handle giant Honkai Beasts.
But now, subatomic weaponry had ushered in an unprecedented military revolution. The results were astonishing.
"The engineering division finally did something worthwhile. Which researcher developed this heavy particle cannon?"
The operator pulled up a projection interface and explained,
"It was Dr. Newton from Research Lab M78. She was also the one who proposed 'Research on Controlled Nuclear Fusion.'"
Seeing the poised young woman displayed on the screen, Pierce straightened instinctively.
"So it's Dr. Newton, the 'Scientific Knight.' No wonder. I've long wanted to meet her. When we return, I must see her personally and credit her with merit—help her rise to director of the institute as soon as possible. Hahaha."
"With a superweapon of this magnitude, there's no need to deploy thermonuclear arms. Humanity can reduce a mere Herrscher to ashes."
"And they're worried about losing? The General Staff must be overly paranoid."
Pierce shoved his hands back into his pockets, brimming with confidence.
As for the Herrscher... how many divisions could she possibly command? At most, she was just a circus ringleader commanding a pack of beasts.
According to intelligence from the reconnaissance unit, this Herrscher possessed the authority to manipulate lightning.
To counter lightning, the engineering division had applied a temporary insulating modification to the battleship's outer surface using ceramic coating technology. Its extremely high resistivity meant even ultra-high-voltage lightning posed little threat.
In other words, before this battleship, the Herrscher of Thunder could only stand obediently and endure bombardment.
"My only hope is that she doesn't run. Otherwise, the report will look terrible."
That was Pierce's sole concern.
Due to intense electromagnetic interference, satellites and radar were unable to track the Herrscher's location. Therefore, they had to rely on reconnaissance aircraft conducting carpet-style optical searches.
But that was no great difficulty. To confront this Honkai Eruption, MOTH had deployed five full carrier strike groups, over three hundred carrier-based jet fighters, and more than a thousand reconnaissance drones. It would take only half an hour to survey the entire Far East region.
However, the Herrscher clearly had no intention of wasting their time. Soon, several fighter jets lost contact one after another.
"Report, sir! The Third Herrscher has been located. She remains in Nagazora City in the Far East!"