Chapter 589

Chapter 589: The War of Titanium Alloy and the Earth

Lin Mo swiftly maneuvered the aircraft to escape the ground’s anti-aircraft machine gun firepower network. He initiated a self-check with the onboard computer system to assess the damage. Some of the navigation system was damaged, but fortunately, it did not significantly affect flight operations. Lin Mo had his tactical tablet, which could connect to military satellite positioning modules, to serve as a substitute for navigation.

The most significant damage occurred inside the fuel tank, which had been pierced by two bullets. The outer layer of Kevlar armor diminished the bullet’s kinetic energy. A liquid gel layer quickly sealed the holes, and the porous fireproof materials and nitrogen filling eliminated the risk of a fire. Multiple emergency mechanisms ensured that the “Mustang” didn’t encounter any disasters.

This safety mode typically applied to the fuel tank systems of many fighter jets, preventing them from easily turning into "turkeys" after sustaining damage in combat.

However, if the number of bullet holes in the fuel tank exceeded its capacity, the outcome would not differ much, as the fighter jet is not a tank.

The ammunition chain used by the ground’s anti-aircraft guns contained only ordinary steel-core bullets. If they had switched to high-explosive or incendiary rounds, Lin Mo wouldn’t have been so lucky.

Only the “Mustang,” a common fighter jet, made it bearable; otherwise, if it were his second mistress, the “Red Eagle,” he would be in agony.

“If we’re going to play, let’s play big.”

Lin Mo gritted his teeth, glancing at the one remaining air-to-air missile under the wing. He burst out of the battlefield again, raising the nose of the aircraft and executing an Immelmann maneuver for a full-speed climb.

Regardless of the circumstances, the bullets weren’t going to be for nothing; he aimed to recover some costs.

When the aircraft climbed to 3,000 meters, the ground’s anti-aircraft guns found themselves powerless, only able to gaze in frustration. Typically, a 12.7 millimeter machine gun’s effective altitude is around 2,000 meters.

At 3,000 meters, even vertical shots would only scratch the titanium alloy skin of the P-51 “Mustang.”

Once he reached 3,000 meters, the oxygen supply system automatically activated, and Lin Mo relished this thoughtful automatic service.

As a Dragon Knight, he endured discomfort from high-altitude hypoxia and cold, relying solely on Battle Energy, unlike now, sitting comfortably in the cockpit as an Air Knight. One was a struggling peasant, while the other was a relaxed, handsome elite (high, meaning they could fly higher; handsome, meaning the pilot had the least scars; elite, flying an expensive fighter and enjoying the best treatment).

Dragon Knights, while piloting their Giant Dragons, sometimes exhausted their battle energy and had to maneuver at lower altitudes, losing speed and falling into danger.

Since the fighter jets in this world transformed Lin Mo’s aerial combat style as an Air Knight, he not only adapted well but also focused his entire energy on combat, maneuvering with greater ease in aerial battles.

This was why, after reaching a certain technical level, pilots at the same rank in this world often weren’t Lin Mo’s match. Their grasp of airflow changes and fundamental flying techniques made the Air Knights from another world far more adept, hence the solid foundation.

At 4,000 meters, Lin Mo thrust into the high-altitude clouds.

At 5,000 meters, the temperature outside the cabin suddenly dropped to zero degrees Celsius. Thin ice began to form on the wings of the “Mustang,” with the new layer of ice starting to thicken.

If it were a jet fighter, the localized high temperatures due to the high-speed friction with air would only produce water vapor, not easily freeze.

6,000 meters!

The “Mustang” burst through the cloud layer, and the intense sunlight reflected off the surface of the aircraft, giving it a dazzling sheen, as though the entire plane was coated in a beautiful piano finish.

Lin Mo reduced engine output, allowing the aircraft to begin descending due to inertia. Although the “Mustang” could reach an altitude of 10,000 meters without the gold giant dragon attachments, he didn’t need to employ any special techniques to deal with the ground’s anti-aircraft positions; all he needed to do was…

Dive!

Absolutely!

The “Mustang” plunged toward the ground from a height of 6,000 meters like a shooting star; it was a war of titanium alloy against the earth.

“Hey, hey, ‘Mustang,’ what are you doing?”

Even the most inexperienced person on the ground could sense something was off— the aerial support’s flight posture was extremely odd.

Was he trying to commit suicide by diving straight from high altitude?

“No problem, I’m making the final blow!”

Lin Mo’s sight filled with the vast land below. A tiny aircraft appeared to be battling a colossal planet, even more ridiculous than Don Quixote charging at windmills.

Gripping the control stick tightly, he pushed the throttle to maximum. Without a single tremor, the Dragon Knight’s gaze remained resolute as he faced the earth rushing toward him.

The "Mustang," battling the turbulent air currents, let out a roar that sounded like a dragon—a triumphant cry.

Seeing the fighter jet rise into the sky and then dive straight down, Captain Heim howled like a wolf. He swiftly pulled the anti-aircraft machine gun from its mount and, fueled by sheer bravado, aimed it at the sky and fired fiercely.

Firing vertically at the sky deeply troubled the armed personnel on the ground. Some, unable to aim at the fighter jet descending overhead, cleverly lay down on the ground, holding their guns up and firing into the sky.

The fighter jet’s altitude quickly fell below 3,000 meters, and the "Mustang" once again faced the threat of ground-based anti-aircraft guns.

At 1,000 meters, the distance closed in an instant. The jet exchanged altitude for speed, and sonic booms erupted from both sides of the wings, leaving long trails of white vapor.

The fixed sight once again proved useful as the anti-aircraft machine guns on both sides opened fire with intensity, unleashing bursts of ten rounds.

The aircraft spun, aligning its nose and tail, performing a spiral maneuver. Waves of bullets rained down on the ground like a torrential downpour, completely covering the armed militants below.

The armed militants on the ground couldn’t even pay attention to the attacks from the Special Operations Team. When they sought cover, they found no refuge, as their defenses only protected them from the sides while the sky above was empty.

Firing down from high altitudes disregarded range; gravity helped extend the bullets’ reach. Even at a height of 5,000 meters, shooting vertically down could still result in horrendous destruction.

The heavy projectiles descending from above, with a 12.7 millimeter caliber classified as an anti-material weapon, caused small explosions on the ground. They ignored any vehicle armor, ruthlessly tearing through human bodies.

The effects of the high-explosive warheads were devastating; vehicles meant for defensive structures crumbled effortlessly, severely weakening the defenses.

The dense barrage of bullets forced the armed personnel on the ground to scramble. Even if they had shoulder-mounted anti-air missiles, it proved no different from before. The fighter jet’s agile maneuvering position made it impossible for the ground forces to track it.

Outside the cockpit, it was like the world was spinning uncontrollably. If an untrained person were in Lin Mo’s place, they would likely have experienced redout or blackout, seeing nothing but red and possibly even fainted. But Lin Mo, with his strong physique as a Dragon Knight, felt nothing.

So far, no fighter jet’s maximum G-force could induce redout or blackout in him.

He continued to operate calmly.

He disabled the air-to-air missile restrictions, turned off the fire control radar, and shut down the guidance system.

At 2,000 meters, just as the "Mustang" was about to enter the fire range of the anti-aircraft guns, a white smoke trail suddenly shot out from beneath the wings, racing toward the ground at an astonishing speed.

"Is that… munitions?!" Captain Heim’s blood-red eyes widened in shock as he shouted, "Run!"

The white smoke in the sky meant something very clear to him as a seasoned arms dealer leader— it indicated a missile, and not just any missile, but an air-to-air missile. The enemy was using an air-to-air missile to force an attack on the ground. It took tremendous imagination and courage to even consider that.

Air-to-air missiles excel at tracking dynamic targets; finding a target in the open sky is easy. However, in the complex terrain of the ground, the guidance system might become confused. Be it optical, electromagnetic, or infrared guidance, the flight trajectory could become unpredictable, unlike surface-to-surface missiles that aim straight for a specific coordinate.

Moreover, if it exceeded the missile’s effective range, it would self-destruct, explaining the odd launch method employed by the enemy.

This form of guidance is an inherent method that any missile possesses, known as inertial guidance.

This attack mode is not a unique invention of the "Mustang" pilot but is often applied in launching bunker-busting missiles or specialized attacks with bunker bombs.

Captain Heim did not hesitate to drop his anti-aircraft machine gun. Ignoring the safety of his men, he sprinted toward another big truck, hoping that the vehicle loaded with all the team’s life supplies would withstand the impending shockwave and explosive fragments.

Boom! It felt like an earthquake suddenly erupted.

The violent shockwave instantly blew away all the unsecured objects within the vehicle’s defensive perimeter, and many armed personnel were thrown into the air like rag dolls, crashing back to the ground and becoming nothing but a bloody mess.

God did not spare Captain Heim. Although the explosion’s shockwave sent him tumbling beneath the truck, pushing him to the other side, the truck, impacted by the force, shuddered violently, lifting one wheel off the ground.

“No, no, no, don’t—” Before Captain Heim could rise, he saw a shadow loom over him, and his vision filled with the truck’s cargo compartment, growing larger until everything went black.

Boom!

The Mustang slowly lifted its nose, struggling to level out while still descending. The potential energy continued to test the internal structure strength of the fixed wings. Even while seated in the cockpit, Lin Mo felt the aircraft tremble violently, leaving no doubt that it might disintegrate in midair at any moment.