Particle Shots Fueled By Rage

The enormous monster was following a trajectory that brought it closer to the fourth planet. Both the goblin and orc fleets were thrown into an uproar, with countless communications flying back and forth.

“Captain Bobro, that monster is an Armored Bombardment Anemone, Threat Level 8.”

Armored Bombardment Anemones were gigantic monsters capable of growing to more than three kilometers in length. Moreover, the armor covering their entire bodies like a turtle’s shell could repel attacks from every weapon possessed by the orcs and goblins, while bombardment tentacles extending from gaps in their shells could fire plasma projectiles.

The Armored Bombardment Anemone was a monster resembling a battleship. The orc fleet was the first to decide to retreat. As numerous vessels fled away from the star, the Armored Bombardment Anemone, which had an instinct to pursue fleeing targets, began chasing the orc fleet.

The officers and soldiers of the goblin fleet breathed a sigh of relief. However, the second-class reconnaissance ship Gyogaru received orders to “Monitor the movements of the Armored Bombardment Anemone.” Captain Bobro reluctantly ordered his ship to follow the monster.

“Zen, this is bad! The orc fleet is approaching our position!”

Hearing Sario’s words, I leaned forward to examine the radar display. It showed numerous vessels and an enormous object approaching us.

“What’s that huge thing behind them?”

“Probably a giant monster. This might be our chance.”

“What do you mean?”

“If the orc fleet escapes into Trans-Spacetime Space, the giant monster might generate a Trans-Spacetime Jump Field to follow them… If we slip into that field at the same time, we might be able to reach a nearby star system.”

I nodded.

“Is it safe to leave our radar running?”

“The orc fleet is emitting radar waves all over the place. Ours will probably go unnoticed among them. Even if they detect us, they won’t have time to investigate under these circumstances.”

“That’s probably true. More importantly, why doesn’t the orc fleet just escape into Trans-Spacetime Space already?”

“It’s dangerous to enter a Trans-Spacetime Jump Field in a region where the star’s gravity has a strong influence. They’re probably planning to generate the field once they’re a little farther from the star.”

“I see.”

“This isn’t the time to sit around watching. Let’s get the small spacecraft moving!”

I headed to the combat room and began propelling the small spacecraft along a course that would take us around the orc fleet and position us behind the giant monster.

I used Heavenquake Force Drive to accelerate the small spacecraft. The orc fleet had probably noticed us, but they didn’t seem to have the luxury of interfering.

As we approached the giant monster, I felt so terrified that my legs began trembling. Countless tentacle-like appendages protruded from its enormous, turtle-like body, which measured approximately three kilometers in length. The way they writhed and twisted was deeply unsettling. Fortunately, the giant monster showed no interest in our small spacecraft, which came as a relief.

However, just as our small spacecraft moved behind the giant monster, a problem arose. The reconnaissance ship Gyogaru was flying nearby. The sight of it was enough to diminish my fear of the enormous creature.

“That’s the reconnaissance ship Gyogaru! What’s it doing here?”

“It’s probably monitoring the movements of the orc fleet and the giant monster. Oh no! The Gyogaru is preparing to attack!”

The reconnaissance ship Gyogaru opened fire with its laser cannons. Sario immediately began using our propellant to make rapid adjustments to the small spacecraft’s trajectory.

“Zen, return fire!”

Sario’s voice came through the speakers, sounding almost like a scream. Hearing him, I remembered the final moments of Berta, Rieto, and Dimas.

“Fine! I’ll give them a fight!”

I settled back into the combat room’s chair and fixed my gaze on the reconnaissance ship Gyogaru. Valbo, the commander of our former reconnaissance unit, had to be aboard that ship. He was the one bastard I could never forgive.

I opened the Control Gate of my Power Conduit to Release Level T and drew in Bosol particles and Heavenquake Force. I would have preferred to use Release Level 1, but I still couldn’t control Heavenquake Force beyond Release Level T. Heavenquake Force Drive was an exception because I could rely on the Acceleration Field Circuit.

The reconnaissance ship Gyogaru was approximately forty kilometers away. Hitting a target at that distance with a particle projectile would be difficult.

I gathered Bosol particles into a particle projectile and launched it toward the Gyogaru using Heavenquake Force. The projectile flew forward, emitting a pale yellow glow, but passed more than a hundred meters away from the reconnaissance ship.

A laser beam flashed past our small spacecraft in retaliation. If it had struck us, Sario and I would probably have died. Fear welled up inside me, but I remembered Berta and the others, using my anger to suppress that fear and concentrate on the battle.

“Aim carefully!”

I heard Sario’s voice. That was easier said than done when the target was so far away. The reconnaissance ship Gyogaru fired its laser cannons again. This time, the beam passed terrifyingly close to me.

Laser beams were invisible to the naked eye, but ever since Zorofienne had granted me Higher-Dimensional Access Methods, I had become capable of sensing the presence of high-energy phenomena.

I continued firing particle projectiles at the reconnaissance ship Gyogaru. The Gyogaru returned fire, but perhaps because its targeting equipment was inadequate, none of its attacks hit us. Apparently frustrated by its inability to score a hit, the reconnaissance ship began closing the distance.

“Sario, if we get into a serious battle here, won’t we attract that giant monster’s attention?”

I asked Sario about my concern.

“No. It looks like the orc fleet and the giant monster are about to start fighting. We should be fine.”

Hearing that, I stared intently at the reconnaissance ship Gyogaru. Its laser cannons continued firing throughout our conversation. However, because our small spacecraft was constantly making small course adjustments, none of the attacks struck us.

I extended my right arm, shaped my hand like a finger gun, and carefully aimed at the reconnaissance ship Gyogaru before launching another particle projectile. I missed again. Then the Gyogaru launched a high-speed missile.

This was bad. I waited for the high-speed missile to approach, letting it draw closer before firing a particle projectile straight at it. Fortunately, the projectile struck the missile, causing it to explode.

Captain Bobro apparently flew into a rage when his expensive high-speed missile was intercepted. Recklessly, he decided to close the distance and finish us off with his laser cannons. I took a deep breath as I watched the reconnaissance ship Gyogaru approach.

I would avenge Berta and the others, no matter what. That determination swelled within my heart. At that moment, my anger toward the goblins had overwhelmed everything else, leaving no room for fear.

My anger became a trigger that heightened my mental state and sharpened my concentration. I could see the reconnaissance ship Gyogaru more clearly than before, and I took aim before firing another particle projectile. Even so, the distance between us was still considerable, so hitting the ship would require some luck.

Apparently, luck was on my side. The particle projectile struck the reconnaissance ship Gyogaru near its stern. Since I’d fired it using Heavenquake Force at Release Level T, its explosive power was limited. The explosion merely dented part of the engine and disabled it, but that was enough to prevent the Gyogaru from accelerating, causing it to gradually fall behind.

“Sario, can we slow down?”

“No! We have to keep up with the giant monster!”

“Damn it!”

I glared at the reconnaissance ship Gyogaru as it gradually fell farther and farther behind us, but eventually gave up.