Chapter 609

Chapter 609: The Challenge Has Just Begun

Both sides showed no mercy, unleashing their firepower against each other, aiming to achieve everything in one battle.

Boom!

Lin Mo’s cockpit suddenly turned red.

For a while, the cockpit fell silent, covered only in a sea of crimson.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly.

Lin Mo felt as if he had snapped back to reality, exhaling deeply. He had fallen short; after all, he had lost.

Just a split second before the simulator display turned red, he saw his missile explode into a fireball in midair, immediately followed by his cockpit being engulfed in red light.

Colonel Jiang had managed to destroy the missile with a barrage of bullets, an incredibly rare event that only existed in theory, and it unfolded right before Lin Mo, which he found hard to accept.

There was a time when shooting down missiles with cannons was Lin Mo’s specialty.

He lost.

“How does it feel?”

Colonel Jiang’s voice echoed in Lin Mo’s ears. This was merely a simulation, and before Lin Mo could respond, Colonel Jiang continued, “I specialize in the J-8II, even more than the Colonel Lei Shidai sent by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation to participate in ‘Abyss Nirvana’. No one in China, or even the world, can pilot a J-8 to defeat me unless you possess more luck than I do; after all, luck is a form of strength.”

This was both the advantage and the sorrow of a specialized pilot. With continuous technological advancements, the J-8II faced obsolescence. Colonel Jiang’s age no longer allowed him sufficient time to specialize in the next generation of fighter aircraft. Even though his aerial combat skills had reached their peak, he would never again have the chance to unleash his utmost combat power.

Even if a war broke out, Colonel Jiang wouldn’t be able to use the J-8II in battle. The growing technological advantages undermined his experience in combat.

The future undoubtedly belonged to the young.

“I haven’t lost yet.”

Lin Mo understood this well; losing the first battle didn’t mean he had failed.

“Good! Not proud in victory, not disheartened in defeat!”

Colonel Jiang’s words remained concise and powerful, just like his decisive tactical attacks in battle.

Both he and Lin Mo knew that the challenge had only just begun.

Even without the full support of the gold giant dragon, spells, and the Dragon General’s efficiency, Lin Mo had still not unleashed his full combat potential.

Restricted by the J-8II’s structural strength and performance, many of Lin Mo’s unique aerial combat techniques remained inaccessible.

Even if he wanted to, the simulator didn’t provide support.

In previous battles, only when the gold giant dragon integrated with the aircraft, significantly enhancing its strength and performance, could he showcase the endless, miraculous aerial combat techniques from another world to the eyes of humanity, leaving every witness in astonishment.

He could pilot the J-11 to perform ultra-low altitude Cobra maneuvers and engage in aerial waltzes, but the J-8II, being a second-generation fighter designed for high altitude and speed, lacked exceptional post-stall performance and couldn’t even execute a simple Cobra maneuver.

Faced with Colonel Jiang, who had thoroughly mastered the J-8II’s capabilities, Lin Mo would naturally suffer. Without the support of Gold Coins, he couldn’t fully harness its potential.

It was precisely because the fighter aircraft’s performance in this world always inherently limited Lin Mo’s aerial combat skills that he relentlessly sought to break convention, striving to create a fighter that truly belonged to him—a fighter that suited him.

“How about it? Ready for a second round?”

Colonel Jiang issued his challenge at the right moment.

The previous battle lasted merely fifteen minutes from start to finish.

Duels between Air Knights were often brief; some lasted only a few seconds.

“Good! Let’s have another round.”

Lin Mo eagerly accepted. It was hard to find an opponent like this, especially one of such high caliber.

Colonel David de Hitt from America’s 1st Flight Wing would certainly not give Lin Mo free training; once they faced off, it would be a fight to the finish.

The history of duels had long been passed down in Europe, and even in civilized society, such duels—no longer tolerated by law—still occurred on certain occasions.

Using violence to settle grudges can indeed be a one-time solution, especially among fighter pilots who still embody the knightly spirit.

Air Knights had become the last group to uphold the spirit of knighthood.

“Thank you both for the wonderful performances, but it’s mealtime now. There’s still plenty of time, so how about we eat dinner, take a short break, and then continue?”

Major General Sun’s voice echoed in the cockpits of Lin Mo and Colonel Jiang.

“Alright, let’s eat before the next fight.”

“Agreed!”

Colonel Jiang and Lin Mo were in complete agreement.

As they stepped out of the cockpit, they were met with enthusiastic applause from the senior leaders of the base and astronauts like Meng Yinan and Wang Xuejun.

Wang Xuejun, in particular, was thoroughly impressed by Colonel Jiang’s extraordinary skills with the J-8II.

He had initially thought Lin Mo was the best pilot he’d ever seen, but in the duel with Colonel Jiang, he witnessed Lin Mo being decisively defeated.

By the time Lin Mo and Colonel Jiang arrived at the 5th Aerospace Training Center in the afternoon, after dinner, the two received temporary identity cards.

With Lin Mo, who was very familiar with the place, leading the way, Colonel Jiang felt completely at ease as he settled in; the simulators here were incredibly enticing to him.

As a seasoned ace pilot, these simulators were like artifacts, significantly boosting a pilot’s combat abilities. The training time could even be directly recorded into an official flight record.

There was no real danger involved, and the G-forces were monitored, with warnings and limits based on the pilot’s physical condition, ensuring no loss of control that could harm the user.

Perhaps due to special consideration for Lin Mo, despite no longer being an astronaut candidate and having no ties to the aerospace center, the training center still provided Lin Mo and Colonel Jiang the same living conditions as the astronauts, even thoughtfully leaving a box of high-nutrition energy bars in the room.

For the two true fighter aces, one battle was far from enough, and after dinner, they unwittingly initiated a rematch.

The matchup between Lin Mo and Colonel Jiang attracted the attention of many astronauts. Many among them, who specialized in spacecraft piloting, had been fighter pilots before, and such thrilling and intense high-level competition could not be missed.

Dueling between aces wasn’t something one could see every day; the opportunity was rare. The viewing hall, filled with large and small screens, was packed with an audience. Such a level of duel was even more captivating than blockbuster aerial combat movies.

In the post-dinner battle, Lin Mo chose the J-10 fighter jet, and Colonel Jiang also selected the J-10.

Colonel Jiang’s control over the J-10 was just below his mastery of the J-8, and this time, their strengths balanced out once more.

Without the J-8’s performance constraints, Lin Mo’s tactical abilities were unleashed once again.

The generational and technological differences between the J-10’s third-generation semi-performance and the J-8II’s second-generation technology were significant, allowing Lin Mo to unleash a newfound combat power that was more than just a slight improvement.

Colonel Jiang immediately felt the pressure, as if facing a different opponent altogether; Lin Mo’s attacks were fierce and relentless, often yielding surprising counterattacks.

As the pilot of the J-10, he exhibited a certain agility that was missing when piloting the J-8II.

He could no longer lock onto Lin Mo with the same certainty as before.

“Not enough, this is still far from adequate! The battles in ‘Abyss Nirvana’ were even more brutal than wars between nations. During my participation, the intensity of combat exceeded that of World War II.”

Although Lin Mo’s counterattacks and sudden, unpredictable maneuvers challenged him, Colonel Jiang skillfully responded with his advanced experience and techniques. He knew that after years away from “Abyss Nirvana," fighter performance and aerial combat skills in this world must have progressed significantly, with newer fighter jets incorporating unique techniques designed by experts.

These unique techniques often caught opponents completely off guard in battle.

“Understood! I will learn from you. My fighter is eager for action!”

Lin Mo pushed the throttle to the max, releasing the auxiliary fuel tank, signifying that failure was not an option.

Both fighters stood nearly on equal footing; if he couldn’t defeat Colonel Jiang in the J-10, then participating in “Abyss Nirvana” would be the same as facing certain death.

The Air Knights eligible for “Abyss Nirvana” could no longer be described as outlaws; nearly everyone held the resolve of accepting death.

With intense mental focus, the ailerons shifted constantly, causing the fighter jet to enter barrel rolls intermittently. Advanced equipment rendered the clouds ineffective as cover, and without hesitation, Lin Mo set the combat altitude to around 1200 meters.

Below were hills; crashing was just a matter of seconds, but the risk was mutual; pilots who didn’t leverage their environment weren’t excellent pilots.

This altitude was ideal for evading pursuits and dogfights. The height significantly affected the turning performance of the fighter jet; the higher the altitude, the poorer the turning performance, and vice versa. Lin Mo and Colonel Jiang chose this altitude, which was perfect for Air Knight duels.

This altitude was completely different from that in the previous battle. The reason was the aerodynamic layout bias; the J-8II was designed for high altitude and speed, particularly excelling above 7000 meters, where it could even overpower the F-16. However, its superiority diminished at mid to low altitudes. Typically, air forces equipped with the J-8II would also have the J-7E to supplement their mid to low altitude combat capabilities.

Fighter jet designs couldn’t dominate every advantage within their flight envelope. Targeting strategies are something commanders and pilots must master, along with adaptability and leveraging strengths while avoiding weaknesses—these are essential skills for every pilot.