"The Anti-Gravity Suspension System is complete. We are already assembling the system onto the Titan and the Floating Turrets. All that remains is to adjust the corresponding parameters before it can be deployed."
This was indeed excellent news. Even Lin hadn't expected to hear the completion of the most critical Titan research at this crucial moment.
"Hahahaha, my round-the-clock work wasn't for nothing, was it?" Delta said the most triumphant words in a weak voice. "This flight device added to the Titan will be named the Delta Flight Device. How about that? After the Titan is fully prepared, we can immediately begin the development of a Floating Airship. We might even be able to realize the concept of an Airborne Base in the future."
This was a revolutionary, completely era-defining technology. The completion of the anti-gravity suspension system meant that numerous previously limited technologies could be expanded and extended.
In the face of the Honkai, humanity's progress was also significant, which at least was a point of relief.
"Once you return, you can... huh?"
Delta stopped midsentence, confused. Lin frowned and asked, "What is it?"
"No... I reported the completion of the Titan to my superiors, and their response was to immediately transport the Titan to your mission location for its first field test..." Delta stammered as he read the incoming message. "Mission? What mission?"
"I'm heading to the coast of the continent of Mu now. A High-Tier Honkai Beast may have appeared there."
"Oh! So that's it. Alright, you wait there. I'll also leave immediately to deliver the Titan."
"...But hasn't the Titan not been completely finished yet?"
"It's fine. The rest is just parameter adjustment. The time it takes for transport and a little time once I arrive will be enough, probably only a dozen hours."
"Okay."
The other side hung up first. It seemed he wanted to use this time to make a few more adjustments.
[Lin, should the system settings for the field test be maintained from the last deployment?]
Prometheus was an integral part of piloting the Titan. After the first version of the Titan was improved, a neural connection was added for a leap forward in piloting state. The load of a single person accessing the Titan was enough to be fatal, making AI assistance especially critical.
Lin's ability to manipulate the Titan into seemingly impossible maneuvers was partly thanks to Prometheus alleviating some of his burden.
"Maintain."
[Understood.]
"Captain, that call just now was about..." Hua couldn't help but ask after Lin fell silent again.
Lin recalled the last time he piloted it and said, "...The Titan is complete. It's on its way."
"Is that so? That's great," Hua nodded, also slightly happy.
"The Titan, huh... It will significantly increase our combat power." Immer, however, considered it more deeply. "But Captain, we don't have experience fighting alongside the Titan. How should we allocate the combat formation?"
Setting aside the fact that Lin would likely pilot the Titan and fly with the flight device, the sheer size and firepower of the Titan made it difficult for ordinary soldiers to coordinate with. Fighting near it might actually restrict Lin.
"This is just an experimental activation of the Titan, not every operation will deploy it," Lin naturally had considered this. He said lightly, "For this mission, you will temporarily coordinate with the Third Squad for reconnaissance."
"Understood."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Kevin connected to the communication channel.
"This is Kevin, Captain of the First Squad." Kevin's serious voice was completely different from his usual cheerfulness. "I received an additional communication. The First Squad will now coordinate with the Captain of the Seventh Squad for the Titan's activation operation."
Lin nodded slightly: "Understood."
Having the First Squad coordinate... essentially means having the First Squad perform reconnaissance and keep watch on the enemy, followed by the Titan performing the annihilation strike?
This felt somewhat redundant to Lin, but he always strictly followed orders, and Kevin would absolutely not disappoint him.
Lin immediately called Hen, the captain of the Third Squad.
"This is Lin, Captain of the Seventh Squad."
"This is Ato, Captain of the Third Squad. I've received the message. You need to adjust personnel allocation, correct?"
Ato and Lin had little interaction. They were similar in their approach, focusing intensely on the mission, but unlike Lin, Ato didn't completely isolate himself from others outside of missions, though he was more serious.
According to unofficial reports, Ato wife, Blanca, who had left Mobius's laboratory, had recently given birth to a child. It was surprising that this man returned to duty without complaint so soon after his child was born.
"Yes."
"Alright. The personnel will be exchanged upon reaching the designated location."
Everything was arranged. The objective of the operation unexpectedly shifted mid-way to a live-fire drill for the Titan, but the Titan's completion undoubtedly brought a sigh of relief to everyone. An increase in combat power would be a significant help for this mission, and no one was displeased.
Except for one person.
Lin's brows were tightly furrowed inside his helmet. His attention had never been on the Titan. Instead, he was observing the typhoon's distribution map, studying the formation and distribution of the wind field.
The Honkai Energy reading was slowly rising, not a sudden outbreak of a large-scale Honkai Eruption. The Honkai Energy Coefficient level was only at the limit of an Emperor-class Honkai Beast, leading the Fire Moth to speculate this was only a medium-to-large-scale Honkai Eruption where a High-Tier Honkai Beast was born.
If it truly was just a medium-to-large-scale Honkai Eruption, the current personnel would be sufficient. After all, a large-scale Honkai Eruption hadn't occurred in a year and could erupt at any moment, so personnel needed to be reserved for preparation.
But Lin felt there was a crucial, undiscovered factor in this mission.
Could a hurricane that blanketed an entire city for a month truly be caused by just a Honkai Beast?
And if it were a High-Tier Honkai Beast, why were there no eyewitness reports?
Lin's hand subconsciously rested on the holster of his pistol.
...
"Hwooooooah——————"
A raging hurricane, sweeping with torrential rain, eroded the human world.
Visibility was reduced to less than ten meters. The severity of the environment was comparable to the Third Honkai Eruption in Nagazora.
"Although I've read the mission briefing, seeing it in person is still quite shocking." Kevin and his team members walked up to Lin. His expression was grim. "This is a full-blown major disaster. Even without the Honkai, it would cause unimaginable damage to human society."
"..."
Kevin was right. Under the relentless destruction of a hurricane with this wind speed, human towns would quickly be reduced to ruins and debris. The Honkai wouldn't even need to lift a finger.
"For now, let's start the reconnaissance, Lin."
Lin didn't reply. He averted his gaze from the city shrouded by the wind field and looked toward the sea, where waves, driven by the hurricane, were crashing with terrifying height.
Just now, he had an illusion.
A sense that a gaze was coming from that direction.