MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Chapter 404: Bullet

The following day arrived swiftly, though the sun had yet to grace the horizon.

It was just past 4 AM when Anthony and his team assembled at a new rendezvous point.

Before them stood the aircraft, sleek, formidable, and humming with latent power, as they proceeded aboard.

”Based on the coordinates we received from the higher-ups yesterday, and as confirmed by the AI, it will take approximately thirteen hours to reach our destination, even at maximum velocity”

Seraphim informed them as they moved deeper into the vessel.

Anthony gave a silent nod, acknowledging her words with quiet motion.

”Anthony, you need to register your mana signature with the aircraft. That will be the only time youʼre granted access to its systems”

Came Dalenʼs voice from the side as he settled into his seat.

”Understood”

Anthony replied, his tone neutral, as he made his way toward the biometric scanner, an interface he recognized from when Darren had verified his identity upon their arrival at Military Base-6 a year prior.

As Anthony placed his hand on the scanner, a soft chime echoed through the aircraft.

The AI promptly responded, requesting verification from the remaining teammates on board.

Anthony returned to his seat, his gaze sweeping over his four teammates before he spoke with steady resolve.

”This will be our first mission together, and my first as captain. My initial order is simple: do not die”

His expression was stern, the weight of leadership clear in his eyes.

”Yes, Captain”

Came the synchronized response from the team, their voices steady and resolute.

The camaraderie that had once filled the air dissipated, replaced by a heavy, unspoken understanding.

The atmosphere had shifted from that of friends to that of soldiers steeling themselves for the mission ahead.

”Head directly to the Bleeding Hollow Zone at maximum speed”

Anthony commanded, his voice sharp and decisive.

Beep.

”Affirmative”

The AI responsed.

With a soft, steady hum, the aircraft trembled as its power surged, energy flowing through its frame.

It lifted gracefully from the ground, before shooting into the sky with astonishing velocity.

As the aircraft ascended, no one spoke.

They sat in quiet unity, their faces unreadable, senses on high alert, every muscle poised for action at a momentʼs notice.

This was the military.

The instant the craft had left the ground, the mission had begun.

The silence hung in the air, yet it was anything but uncomfortable.

They had long since grown accustomed to it.

Five hours passed in the blink of an eye, the silence unbroken as the aircraft cut through the skies.

The sun hung high, its golden rays casting a warm, rejuvenating light upon the world below.

Then, the stillness was abruptly shattered.

Beep.

”Threat detected”

The AI announced, its voice urgent and mechanical.

A heads up display flickered to life before Anthony and his team, showing a swarm of monstrous figures closing in from all directions.

The creatures unleashed a barrage of attacks, their violent strikes aimed at bringing the aircraft crashing from the sky.

Beep.

”Forcefield deployed”

The AI announced.

In response, the sleek form of the aircraft shimmered with a radiant blue light, and a protective force field materialized around it, effortlessly deflecting every incoming assault.

The sky reverberated with the echoes of relentless bombardment.

”Countermeasure initiated”

The AI announced once more, its tone calm amidst the chaos.

A small compartment beneath the craft opened with mechanical precision, followed by the emergence of massive, gun-like structures from various points on the aircraftʼs body.

They pulsed with an ominous glow before unleashing a barrage of firepower, the rounds leaving the ship in a rapid, almost ceaseless stream.

The sound of gunfire echoed in the sky, a deafening rhythm of destruction.

Loud, pained screeches filled the air as countless monsters were struck, their cries cut short as they plummeted from the heavens, lifeless before they hit the ground.

The team remained motionless, their eyes locked on the unfolding spectacle.

They didnʼt move, didnʼt flinch, only watched as the AI took command, obliterating whatever threat dared to challenge them.

”I didnʼt realize the military employed such weapons, guns and aura bullets”

Anthony remarked, his gaze fixed on the heads up display.

Kingsley responded, his tone steady and composed.

”Those at the lower tiers of mana rank typically rely on mana bullets to combat beasts beyond their capabilities. The military, however, has simply refined these into aura bullets, elevating their potency to inflict damage on stronger creatures”

He paused, his eyes drifting toward the window, his expression distant.

”Of course, these aura bullets are ineffective against certain monsters, which is why the aircraft is also equipped with laser weaponry for those of a higher caliber”

As Kingsley spoke, the machine guns retracted smoothly back into their compartments.

In their place, smaller, more intricate structures emerged, glowing with a fierce, crimson light.

The aircraft unleashed its laser weapons in rapid succession, slicing through the beasts that had withstood the force of the aura bullets.

The sky seemed to bleed with the hues of crimson and violet as the monstrous bodies plummeted, their gravity drawing them downward in grotesque arcs.

”Of course, there are also Intent bullets”

Kingsley continued, his voice steady.

”But those capable of wielding intent rarely have the time to assist researchers with its development. As such, Intent bullets are only deployed in aircraft, since soldiers either lack the military points to afford them or are simply too powerful to rely on such tools”

He gave a contemplative glance toward the unfolding chaos outside the window.

”An intriguing concept, really”

”Indeed”

Anthony replied, his mind wandering as he watched the spectacle.

His thoughts briefly drifted to the action movies from his past life, images of characters wielding firearms with dramatic flair.

ʼShould I at least try a few out, see how it feels?ʼ

He wondered, a trace of curiosity hidden behind his otherwise expressionless face.

The hours passed swiftly, the relentless onslaught of monsters never ceasing.

Yet the AI remained unfazed, its aura bullets and lasers cutting through the waves of attackers with unnerving precision, never once slowing the aircraftʼs blistering pace.

Eventually, the silence crept back in, as if the very air itself exhaled in relief.

The assault had ended, and the aircraft continued its course, leaving nothing but the remnants of the fallen beasts in its wake.