14 Connection

"Reinforcements again...!"

The number of disc-shaped units does not decrease.

Despite sensing themselves being pushed back toward their original direction, no effective countermeasure can be taken.

The disc-shaped units are problematic because they lack any discernible weak point.

Normally, destroying the reactor or processor would suffice for standard ASIDs.

But these units have no reactor.

And apparently, no processor either.

Currently, activity only ceases if destruction is evenly applied across all units.

This is a disadvantage for Jin.

His overwhelming offensive capability arises from his ability to eliminate enemies in a single strike.

The convergence of ether used in his weapons serves solely that purpose.

Thus, he is poorly matched against opponents he cannot eliminate in one blow.

Here, Jin is counted no differently than any other single unit.

Quantity is what is required.

The number of炮 ports is simply insufficient.

A sufficient number is required to knock down all the discs here and move forward before reinforcements arrive.

Yet there is no room in this narrow passage to deploy such a number, nor any means to bring them.

Only through the desperate release of the Ether Cannon, pressed to the brink, did they finally pierce the enemy's encirclement—but breaking through remains difficult.

If only Jin and his unit were involved, it might suffice. But to break through the recently joined detachment requires a far larger breach.

The enemy commander, seeing through their hesitation, shouts:

‘Go! Don’t worry about us!’

Stalling here means mutual annihilation.

Then, perhaps, it would be better to let only the mobile教导队 escape.

That is the decision.

In other words, using them as bait might allow Jin’s unit to advance deeper.

Abandoning them.

‘…! Don’t give up!’

The temptation to leap into that path is overwhelming.

No one will blame them.

Neither subordinates nor the enemy will blame anyone. They will say it was an unavoidable decision.

Jin shouts, bringing down three disc-shaped units in an instant.

He is beginning to grasp the rhythm.

Indeed, there is no vulnerability like that of conventional ASIDs.

The functions are distributed across multiple points, making complete destruction in a single strike impossible.

"Ether collection node—there it is?"

The weakness born only because the system receives ether from outside.

It must be exposed externally. Otherwise, ether cannot be harvested.

Since earlier, while evading the enemy's movements, he has gradually shifted his targeting points, searching for the weak spot.

And finally, he has found the location where a single strike can disable functionality.

Whether this is indeed the ether collection node, as Jin suspected, remains unknown.

Yet the enemy has fallen silent.

The information unfolds instantly.

"! So that's it! This is the place!"

Once confirmed, the reaction of the elite instruction squad is immediate.

Attacks previously fired at random shift to targeted strikes on weaknesses.

What once required two or three shots now resolves with a single strike.

This means the enemy can be eliminated faster than reinforcements arrive.

"Captain! Movement response in the rear!"

"More reinforcements?!"

As elimination speed increases, the enemy grows even more numerous.

The situation cannot be resolved here yet.

Now that enemy numbers have decreased significantly, a forced breakthrough is the only option.

"Create an opening in the encirclement. Everyone—back—"

"Reactor signature... this is friendly fire!"

'You made it! Ace. Still alive?'

The familiar figure appears on the comms screen.

Simultaneously with a rough landing, it destroys the surrounding disc-shaped units and collapses the turrets.

'Nice intel on the weak point. Makes things a lot easier.'

Jin's lips curved slightly as he recognized the familiar silhouette of the escort unit commander on the comms screen.

'You're here. That means the second wave has breached the perimeter?'

'Yeah. And this is a souvenir. Install it quickly.'

At the words, the software transferred via the contact link was adapted to the机体.

Instantly, communication returned. The synchronized data link updated in an instant, and a vast map appeared before him.

'...This is—'

'The fleet noticed the comms had dropped. They've activated a new transmission protocol.'

'No relays... how is this possible...'

'Can't explain the details... but apparently it uses the ether of that massive unit itself for ether transmission.'

In essence, it's riding the enemy's ether to relay signals.

The result of mechanics, starting with Sharon, pooling their knowledge to establish communication with the equipment at hand.

A rushed prototype, completed in less than an hour. Highly unstable, dependent on the enemy’s signal—but viable.

“This will handle internal communications…!”

‘That’s right. We’ll continue searching for other units and restore the network.’

Many units remained isolated. Their role was to locate and re-integrate them into the operation.

‘And, slightly, resupply.’

A container is set down from one of the units.

Slight but sufficient—weapons can be replaced, and supplies replenished.

A surge of resolve rises within Jin.

“The operation continues. We’ll finish them before they can do anything else.”

With communications restored, the status of other units becomes known.

Second wave—approximately the same number of units as the initial assault force—seemed to scatter simultaneously, using map data from before communications were lost.

The map fills gradually, unit by unit, as more forces rejoin the operation.

『Seventh Armored Company reporting! Processor detected!』

Then, finally, a single report arrives.

『A powerful defense mechanism is present...! Requesting reinforcements!』

Was this defense mechanism already in place? Or was it prepared specifically for this incursion?

If the latter, complications arise.

The construction of such a mechanism may have required significant resource allocation from the super-large species.

Meaning it is likely not easily breached.

『We’ll target the head. Leave reinforcements to the other units!』

A confirmation reply follows, and they advance.

Defensive mechanism. Likely also present in the processor within the head.

Avoid the disc-shaped object.

Passing through countless grids.

Finally arrive.

This is...

What a vast space this is.

This is the destination.

Understood at a glance.

A vast space, clearly distinct from the others.

The pale blue glow—was it the ether's substance being absorbed?

At the center of the circular hall stands a single pillar, supporting the ceiling.

No turret among them.

A peculiar space where only pillars exist.

"No—"

Jin reconsiders—there is more to it than just pillars.

At the center of that pillar.

Something spherical existed.

Whatever it is, magnify it—.

"……Cocoon?"

The shape was familiar.

The form seen here was beyond even the most unexpected predictions.

It was something seen only once, eight years ago.

Something adrift near Ship One.

Something remarkably similar to what the Second Fleet had hastily recovered despite the commotion.

Why is it here.

No—Jin reconsiders.

Jin and the others came here to destroy the super-sized species' processor.

And what was here was only that cocoon.

Therefore, the cocoon itself is the processor.

Then the question Jin should be asking is this:

Why did the Third Fleet possess something so strikingly similar to the processor of the super-sized species—the original queen?

If it were merely a different object resembling it in appearance, that would suffice.

But if it were the same object.

That cannot be.

Thoughts scatter in disarray.

At this moment, Jin has forgotten he is on a battlefield.

His consciousness has fully detached from the cocoon before him.

Thus, his reaction was delayed.

The cocoon cracked open, and something emerged and fell from within.

It took on a distorted human form.

A humanoid form, its right arm swollen and glowing golden.

Approximately ten meters in length. Slightly smaller than a standard humanoid ASID.

Where the processor should have been.

But a processor moving independently like a standalone ASID? He had never heard of such a thing.

The double impact further delayed Jin’s reaction.

In this situation, it was a fatal lag.

In the next instant, Jin could not react to the golden shadow before him.

No time to predict even one second ahead.

The fist struck Jin’s Raven—shattered against the wall of the chamber, stopping mid-impact.

No sign of evasive motion. A perfect hit.

Limbs flung limp, chest crushed—giving the impression of a corpse.

The frame did not twitch.

A golden cry, unheard in vacuum.

It sounded as though it had already won.