Chapter 648

Chapter 648: Defeating the Enemy Without Fighting

After the battle ended, Sally quickly acquired the data on Lin Mo’s next opponent, scheduled for the day after tomorrow. The soldiers, who typically took a backseat, acted as caretakers, while the wealthy woman, who held immense power and fortune, took charge of the finances.

Everyone’s focus circled around one person: Lin Mo. As long as Lin Mo could continue eliminating his upcoming opponents and maintain his victories, their peculiar team would continue to thrive and reap great rewards.

The second opponent hailed from Africa, Egypt, with the flight code “Crocodile.” He was a novice tier nine pilot, the lowest rank in the “Abyss Nirvana” newcomer group. Like Lin Mo, he was a DIY enthusiast for fighter jets, collecting fighter components to assemble various aircraft. He piloted a self-made triangular fighter, featuring a large integrated triangular wing that extended from the nose to the tail, with dual vertical stabilizers above and below. Alongside a dual-engine turbofan setup, it also had two afterburner rocket engines. This was not standard military equipment but rather a DIY creation, primarily designed for the “Abyss Nirvana” competition without an intention for prolonged combat.

Using a significant sweep angle and large wing area provided more lift for many DIY fighter participants, making it one of the easiest designs to achieve. However, it sacrificed considerable close-combat capabilities, and the weak super-maneuverability would severely affect the fighter’s agility—not to mention the risk of stalling.

Such amateur players entering this battlefield were merely walking to their doom and handing out points. The “Abyss Nirvana” had seen many of these fearless participants over its many rounds. Occasionally, an eye-catching rookie would appear, but the novice tier was usually the terminus of their journey and their ultimate fate.

Very few lucky individuals managed to withdraw from the contest in time and escape with their lives.

Shortly after the X-1 forward-swept wing fighter jet soared into the blue sky, its on-board radar swiftly detected the triangle aircraft that had no stealth design whatsoever. If the “monstrous” modified AN/APG-81 active electronically scanned array radar were in play, ascending above 4,000 meters would allow monitoring of opponents launching from the Anti-Government Forces Aleppo Tal Shegheib air force base without even leaving the Damascus air force base.

Participating fighter jets rarely emphasized stealth capabilities; once combat within a ten-kilometer visual range commenced, stealth features became irrelevant.

Optical stealth technologies existed, but they couldn’t withstand the high temperatures from friction with the air, the vibrations of the aircraft, and intense overload stripping, additionally increasing unnecessary weight and energy consumption.

The organizers and spectators didn’t wish to witness battles overly reliant on medium- to long-range missiles as they were quite dull and lacked technique. Thus, the exchange points for medium- to long-range missiles were set exceedingly high, and their steep costs pressured pilots to fully utilize their air combat skills, delivering exciting matches for everyone.

With no apparent tactics, the Light Mirror Technique directly locked onto its target, the “Crocodile” and its triangular aircraft.

The X-1 entered a no-afterburner supersonic cruising state. Even from 100 kilometers away, the on-board fire control system could firmly lock onto targets beyond the naked eye and execute a lethal locking technique, including a three-dimensional external feature scan.

This showcased the charm of technology applied in warfare, the appeal of which was rivaled only by magic—Lin Mo wholeheartedly agreed with this concept.

As long as there were guidance features akin to the Chinese Pioneer-4 air-to-air missiles, ignoring their radar and infrared stealth designs was possible. The aircraft could be targeted and taken down from any angle using the optical guidance.

Before either side entered visual range, “Crocodile” found himself already trapped in the locking sights of the X-1’s Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS). Lin Mo possessed three attack methods: the cannon, the Gauss electromagnetic railgun, and air-to-air missiles.

When the X-1 forward-swept wing fighter jet appeared in the Egyptian pilot “Crocodile’s” line of sight, it looked even larger than most heavy fighters, causing “Crocodile” to widen his eyes in shock and turn pale.

“Crocodile” did not give Lin Mo the chance for a surprise attack hidden in the sunlight, but the radar on the triangular fighter showed no indications. How could this be at such a close range?!

What kind of stealth technology was this?

The “Number 13” forward-swept wing fighter wasn’t as simple as “Crocodile” assumed. It had somehow compensated for the inherent stealth flaw of forward-swept wings, catching him off guard. This completely overturned what “Crocodile” believed: that “Number 13” had gained an advantageous position in the previous battle to destroy the “Young Fox” only by luck, as the radar couldn’t possibly have such precision.

While luck could be a form of skill, he remained unconvinced, believing that luck was not something that could be repeated.

“No, no, this isn’t fair!”

“Crocodile” realized he faced an opponent he could not compete with, feeling the grim reaper closing in, and desperately yanked at the control stick to execute an evasive barrel roll.

He wasn’t foolish or rigid; the video recorded from “Number 13’s” prior battle showcased the X-1’s cannon accuracy and ferocity.

He didn’t want to die—that was simply it.

As an aviation enthusiast, “Crocodile” naturally understood the performance of forward-swept wings. If he could resolve its fatal structural flaw, it would mean he would be invincible in close combat!

No fighter jet would dare to hold such confidence—only a forward-swept wing fighter jet could be so bold.

The large triangular fighter jet had rocket propulsion engines mounted under its left and right wings, ejecting blue circular tail flames as its body accelerated in a straight line.

This was a disposable auxiliary power using chemical propellants, lasting only a brief five seconds, but capable of instantly propelling the fighter jet to 3.2 Mach. With inertia, it could send the triangular fighter over ten kilometers away in the blink of an eye, easily avoiding any short-range air-to-air missiles.

These two disposable booster rocket engines were “Crocodile’s” life-saving trump card in the novice tier battle. As long as he could evade the first wave of attacks, he could turn around and escape back to the air force base.

Surrendering felt a bit shameful, though “Crocodile” lacked the courage to continue the subsequent matches. At least saving his life was sufficient.

“He’s such a coward!”

Lin Mo muttered, unaware that his entrance nearly paralyzed his opponent with fear. In aerial combat, it was typical for both sides to circle and confirm each other’s positions first. Lin Mo, however, went straight to the point upon taking off.

Having only played air combat games, “Crocodile” had never witnessed a real-life fighter pilot delivering such a frightening display of power. The difference in mental resilience between military pilots and civilian ones became evident as “Crocodile” lost to Lin Mo right at their first encounter.

3.2 Mach was indeed fast and could potentially shake off a 4 Mach air-to-air missile, but for the X-1 forward-swept wing fighter jet integrated with the gold giant dragon from the moment it ascended, it held a significant advantage.

By increasing the fuel output, the power of the WS-51X twin-engine instantly climbed with a rapid curve. The fighter jet benefited from the innate abilities of the gold giant dragon’s Void Magnetism and the Flowing Wave Heavenly Transformation Magic Circle; even with the engine output reaching one hundred percent, it didn’t achieve maximum load.

With two rocket engines combined with two turbofan engines, achieving 3.2 Mach in a short time looked powerful, but in front of the X-1 forward-swept wing fighter jet, it was merely a joke.

When the organizers of “Abyss Nirvana” and the observing pilots and dignitaries saw the speed of “Number 13’s” vehicle reach 4 Mach displayed on the big screen, all expressions froze in an instant.

Even the two engineers from the National Defense Star were awestruck.

All the hangars and halls fell into complete silence.

Was this a fighter jet or a missile?

The X-1 forward-swept wing fighter jet effortlessly reached 4 Mach, not only catching up but also firmly hovering above “Crocodile’s” triangular fighter, like a dark cloud looming overhead, refusing to dissipate.

At that moment, the rocket auxiliary engines, having exhausted their propulsion fuel, completely lost power, causing the triangular fighter to slow down once again.

“How, how is this possible? A devil! It’s a devil!”

“Crocodile” felt icy dread wash over him. He could nearly perceive his opponent’s speed with the naked eye, which was undoubtedly not much slower than a missile. Before any attack was launched, he had already been completely suppressed.

Disregarding the other two elements of aerial combat—altitude and firepower—his triangular fighter was utterly defeated in terms of speed and maneuverability.

Had it been any other aircraft, he might have strained to pull up and engage the opponent, but in front of the forward-swept wing fighter jet, he had zero chances. Its stalling performance and extremely tight turning radius would tear his fighter apart.

“Crocodile” was utterly dazed, unable to react further, merely waiting helplessly for death to arrive.

Lin Mo felt no sense of achievement against such a defenseless opponent. He moved the control stick, adjusted the ailerons, and the fighter jet immediately entered a scissor kill attack position.

A slight maneuver aimed the nose at the enemy aircraft, and the cannon unleashed a burst of five shots that poured forth like a tide.

Every shot of the fierce cannon ammunition found its mark, the massive projectiles blasting fragments off the aircraft’s body, while the engine section got struck and erupted in flames, causing the body to lose power and fall.

Having no interest in taking supplementary shots, Lin Mo turned the nose away and departed.

Civilians could never match the seasoned warriors forged through rigorous training.

A parachute flower floated in the sky as the dazed “Crocodile” stared blankly at the ground, his mind a blank slate. Perhaps after the surge of hot blood faded, he would realize how utterly foolish he had been.

Upon returning to the ground, Lin Mo leaped down from the aircraft without requiring a boarding ladder.

“Hey! ‘Number 13,’ you did great!”

A voice from a stranger called out from a distance.

“Kid, you’re too close; move away!”

That was the voice of the caretaker, “Yasha.”