Lin Zhao and Chen Xue emerged from the studio in their fully charged Xihe-class mechs. Outside, a Yunying-class fighter belonging to Feiyue Transport had its engines humming. Beside it stood a group of Shen family guards, responsible for protecting Shen Xingchen. Nangong Jilin frowned and asked, "Heading towards Xicheng?"
"Yes."
Lin Zhao nodded. "Did you hear the whispers too?"
"The commotion was too great to ignore."
Nangong Jilin said, "Be careful. We'll handle things here. No one in the studio will be harmed."
"Alright, we're leaving then."
Lin Zhao stepped into the cockpit and directly took the pilot's seat. Chen Xue unceremoniously occupied the co-pilot's seat. The Feiyue Transport combat team member from before went to serve as the observer.
The Yunying-class ascended and soon merged with Feiyue Transport's fleet. This time, Feiyue Transport had mobilized almost its entire strength: two Chi You-class light cruisers, 30 Yunying-class fighters, along with numerous auxiliary combat drones and reconnaissance aircraft. They formed a dense formation in the sky.
"Boss."
Huodao, from within a Chi You-class, spoke on the comms. "What's the plan?"
"Probe their defenses first. No rash actions."
Lin Zhao continued, "Xicheng is swarming with military aircraft right now. The enemy is the sea beast tide. All our aircraft will use public channels and identify themselves to avoid friendly fire."
"Understood!"
Before long, Feiyue Transport's fleet approached Xicheng. They saw the roads connecting Xicheng and Sucheng filled with the lights of cars. Countless Xicheng civilians were fleeing towards Sucheng, while traffic within the city was gridlocked, with numerous accidents occurring. No one was paying them any mind.
Lin Zhao inputted the coordinates and family contact information provided by Luoman into the Yunying-class system. He then looked ahead. Human warships were taking off in the sky, and many fighters sent inquiries. Lin Zhao broadcasted on the public channel, "This is Feiyue Transport. We are here to rescue civilians and assist the military in repelling the sea beast offensive."
"Welcome!"
A colonel commanding a brigade from the Eighth Army Corps replied.
Following this, Lin Zhao led the fleet northward. Soon, they spotted groups of sea beasts swarming through the city streets and alleys. It was evident that Luoman's home was already a "fallen zone." The human military's firepower was somewhat insufficient, as armies often lacked funding.
Aside from some heavy weaponry that they couldn't afford, Feiyue Transport's two Chi You-class cruisers, 30 Yunying-class fighters, and the dense swarm of drones effectively gave them air superiority comparable to an army division of the Eighth Army Corps.
"Advance!"
Lin Zhao smoothly adjusted the Yunying-class's angle to firing position, locking onto the sea beasts racing below. With a press of the button, a barrage of fire erupted, turning three sea beasts into a bloody mist. He simultaneously asked, "Huodao, what is the maximum attack range of the sea beasts?"
"40 meters. That's the extreme reach of their tentacles."
"Good!"
Lin Zhao said sternly, "All fighters maintain a distance of 60 meters, stay clear of tall buildings, and engage the sea beasts below. We will advance."
"Understood!"
Lin Zhao glanced at Chen Xue beside him. "Axue, use the drones to scout Luoman's home coordinates. No need for everyone to take risks."
"Okay."
Chen Xue deployed eight drones. Soon, the drone feeds appeared on their screens. An eighteen-story residential building was ablaze, engulfed in black smoke. One or two sea beasts darted around the lower floors. The drones' life sign scanners detected no living humans within the building, only a dozen sea beasts hunting for prey.
"There's no hope."
Chen Xue shook her head, her expression somber.
Lin Zhao gritted his teeth. "Contact the military and request satellite tracking for Luoman's parents' mobile phones. We must do our best."
"Understood!"
Just then, Lin Zhao's phone rang. It was a call from Murong Feiyue. He quickly answered, "Sister, I've led the fleet to Xicheng. Are you here too?"
"Yes."
Murong Feiyue sent a set of coordinates. "My two heavy mecha divisions are in eastern Xicheng, engaging the mother beast and a large number of sea beasts. Little Zhao, you're not part of the military, and your aircraft are civilian registered. There's no need for you to risk coming over. Just help with civilian evacuations in the city."
Lin Zhao looked at the energy signature fluctuations detected by the Yunying-class's scanners in the distance. "I've scanned it. There's a big one near your position!"
"Yes, it's the mother beast."
Murong Feiyue continued, "It's an S-class Kui Jia mother beast, with immense primal biological energy and the ability to launch electromagnetic pulse attacks. We are currently concentrating all our firepower to bombard it. We must shatter its primal shield in the shortest possible time, then finish it off with heavy ordnance."
"Understood."
Lin Zhao replied, "I'll bring two Chi You-class cruisers and 20 Yunying-class fighters over immediately, but we won't get close. We'll maintain at least ten kilometers distance and attack with orbital cannons and missiles. Don't worry about me."
"Is that so…"
Murong Feiyue frowned slightly. "Alright, but be sure to guard against its electromagnetic pulse attacks. Have everyone activate their auxiliary hybrid power systems and turn on the anti-electromagnetic interference systems in advance. That way, even if hit by an EMP, the damage will be minimized."
"Got it!"
Lin Zhao nodded and immediately issued the order over Feiyue Transport's entire fleet channel. Chen Xue and Huodao looked excited. An S-class mother beast! As veterans, to fight alongside such a creature again, even just launching a few missiles from afar, the sense of participation and honor was overwhelming!
"Lin Zhao."
Chen Xue looked at Lin Zhao, then pointed to a section of the drone footage. Amidst the rubble, a shattered mobile phone was still emitting a faint signal. She frowned. "We found Roman's mother's phone…"
"Keep searching. She might have just dropped her phone in her panic."
Lin Zhao frowned. "Use facial recognition technology to search. We must find Roman's parents among the evacuees."
"Okay!"
At this moment, amidst the smoke and fire, the scene of intense combat in the east of the city could be seen from afar. The Kui Jia mother beast was clashing with the Seventh Army Corps' heavy mecha division. From all directions, countless heavy artillery, orbital cannons, and missiles rained down on the mother beast's body. However, its biological energy shield was too formidable; only heavy orbital cannons could deliver a fatal blow.
Unfortunately, heavy orbital cannons were too cumbersome, and the Seventh Army Corps' were still in transit.
"We're within range."
Lin Zhao confirmed the lock on the Kui Jia mother beast's head. "All crews, engage at will. Once half of our ammunition is expended, return to rescue civilians."
"Understood!"
Instantly, the light orbital cannons of the two Chi You-class cruisers, along with the air-to-air missiles and air-to-ground missiles from the Yunying-class, illuminated the sky, streaking across the atmosphere and impacting the mother beast's head. The sudden surge of powerful firepower caused the Kui Jia mother beast to falter, its shield weakening considerably.
…
In the Second War Zone Operations Conference Room.
General Commander Chen Cong watched the real-time feed, frowning. "Who are those aircraft?"
"Feiyue Transport."
A young staff officer stated grimly, "A civilian transport group. Its owner is Lin Zhao, the younger brother of Murong Feiyue, commander of the Seventh Army Corps."
"Oh?"
Chen Cong paused, a look of approval in his eyes. "Remarkable. This is the first civilian transport group willing to provide fire support on the battlefield."
"Yes."
The staff officer let out a wry smile. "Other transport groups have long since fled to safety. The nature of merchants is profit. They calculate the cost of an orbital cannon shell, a missile, an energy plate, very clearly. Who would waste hard-earned money on missiles to fight sea beasts?"
"Hmph!"
Chen Cong chuckled faintly. "Note down Feiyue Transport. Since they are willing to help the government, we should be grateful. We will compensate them double for the ammunition and energy they expend. Furthermore… if Lin Zhao is willing, we in the Second War Zone can incorporate them. With their strength, we can offer him a divisional commander position."
The staff officer smiled. "Snow Domain Heavenly Pool's Lin Baiyi probably wouldn't accept a general's rank from the commander."
Chen Cong, who had never played "Tianxia," was confused. He looked at the young staff officer, wishing he could give the brat a kick.
…
After expending half their ammunition, Lin Zhao immediately gave the order, leading them back to the sea beast battlefield within the city. Still piloting the Yunying-class, they continuously engaged in dive attacks, eradicating sea beasts on the ground. The Yunying-class's primary cannons were always replenished, especially on Lin Zhao's fighter, where the machine guns were refilled daily by dedicated personnel.
In the military of this era, recruits were more eager to become air force pilots than ground troops. This was because sea beast tides could not attack from the air, so air force pilots simply needed to unleash firepower. In contrast, ground and naval forces had to engage the sea beasts directly, resulting in much higher casualty rates than the air force.
Feiyue Transport also benefited from this advantage, continuously unleashing firepower from the air to help clear sea beasts from Xicheng.
As for Luoman's father and mother, there was still no news.
"Beep!"
A message arrived from Lu Han of the Feiyue Knights.
Lin Zhao connected the call and found Lu Han in what appeared to be the game world, specifically within Shanhaiguan. He frowned. "Boss, Xicheng is in trouble. You know about it, right?"
"I'm in the sky above Xicheng."
"I can see that."
Lu Han noticed the sophisticated instruments around Lin Zhao. "Let me report. We have 237 members of the Feiyue Knights in Xicheng, and more than half have lost contact."
"Send me their detailed addresses and contact information. We'll find them one by one!"
"Understood!"
Beside him, Chen Xue's eyes were like water. "Prioritize rescuing our Feiyue Knight members?"
"Of course."
"That doesn't quite align with your Confucian principles."
"If humanity is lost, what's the point of principles and knowledge?"
Lin Zhao smiled faintly, looking at Chen Xue. "Scholars should value loyalty and righteousness the most!"
Chen Xue nodded with satisfaction. "Then let's start the rescue!"