Chapter 140 Since Inception

【Time rewinds—just after a black fleet suddenly appeared over Mongolia——】

"Five-oh was right. They really showed up."

"Prepared for this moment. No need to panic... Probably getting orders from above any second now."

Shimizu and Sakagi stood in the Gifu base of the Air Self-Defense Force, watching the news on television.

In response to the sudden emergence of an unknown aerial force in Mongolia, Mongolian, Chinese, and Russian forces had immediately launched, requesting reinforcements from other nations.

Since this was the expected scenario, a command center was swiftly established in Europe—and the deployment of "Prometheus" was decided.

But due to Mongolia's distance, the air force judged that refueling through several countries would be necessary, so arrival at the battlefield would take time.

Receiving this request for support, Japan also—

【Osaka Prime Minister’s Office】

"Still came, huh..."

"Yes. Just as Gojo had warned us. But we’re ready."

Prime Minister Tada and newly appointed Defense Minister Okazoe were discussing inside the office.

"At the Chitose, Gifu, and Ashiya Air Self-Defense Force bases, special units have already joined up with the Ground Self-Defense Force. They can be deployed at any moment if needed."

Thanks to Gojo having completed all coordination with relevant ministers and necessary legal preparations before departing for Antarctica, Prime Minister Tada faced no issue in issuing the first combat order in post-war history.

"I want to speak directly to the personnel who’ll actually be deployed before the order goes out. Can you set up a live feed?"

"Right away."

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

That day, the Gifu base of the Air Self-Defense Force was in chaos. An evacuation order was certain.

Fujiki was in charge of the special unit composed of the three Air Self-Defense Force bases in Chitose, Gifu, and Ashiya.

"Try not to get too excited, now!"

"Yeah... but we can't afford to take it easy either. The deployment order’ll come any second. Still, nerves are running high."

"Don't worry. We’ve got something—A(・)I(・)T(・)S—prepared for this moment, thanks to Gojo. It’ll work out."

Fujiki, Shimizu, and every single unit scheduled to deploy had gathered in a room at the base. In the center of the room, a large monitor stood.

They’d been told a live feed was coming in from the Cabinet Office. The troops straightened up. The face of Prime Minister Toda appeared on the screen, and he began speaking directly to them.

『To all members of the Self-Defense Force gathered before this screen, as Prime Minister of Japan, I have one thing to say. From this moment forward, we shall comply with a United Nations request and proceed to a combat zone.』

Everyone present knew that even with a UN request, such a move wouldn’t have happened without careful groundwork beforehand.

『It pains me deeply to send you to a dangerous battlefield. But I firmly believe that your actions will greatly contribute to world peace and safeguard the lives of Japanese citizens.』

The tension in the room spiked as Toda paused.

『I hereby order the 10th Air Wing’s Flight Group, and the Special Flight Unit, to deploy under collective self-defense rights!』

"Salute!"

At Fujiki’s command, every soldier in the room snapped to attention in unison. It was the first time since the Self-Defense Force’s founding that an order to use force overseas had been given.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

I was hurrying with Shimizu toward the runway where our fighter jets and transport planes were already prepped and ready to launch.

"Shimizu, what's the situation? You were just talking to a defense ministry official—information must’ve come through by now."

"Yeah, Mongolia’s forces are already in shambles. China and Russia are pressuring them from both sides, keeping up the attack…"

"Struggling, huh?"

"They’re launching tens of thousands of fighters from those black motherships. Means they’ve got the same science and tech we do."

"Same? That’s still a massive firepower gap, though."

"Reports say our attacks just hit an invisible barrier. Nothing gets through."

"So…?"

"But after a few hits, the barrier flickers out. Then regular attacks can actually bring them down."

"Meaning we can take them down with conventional weapons. Not like those monsters… So they’re not coming themselves—just sending those things in place of them?"

"Yeah, possible. The US and EU are hitting those big motherships with intercontinental missiles, and apparently, after a few hits, they can break through the barrier too. But there are too many of them. If reinforcements don’t come soon, China and Russia might get wiped out."

"How fast the world’s forces can unite is critical… But why Mongolia? Any geographic reason?"

Shimizu’s question was one I’d been thinking too…

"Can’t say… Either a strategic move, or they can’t precisely control where they appear… So many unknowns."

"Same with their goals. Plenty of them, but not enough to take on the whole world at once, I think."

"Chinese reports mention a few large motherships landing somewhere—saw something going on. Feels bad, doesn’t it?"

"Yeah. If they’re setting up comms jamming or summoning monsters… we’re screwed. No choice but to stop them."

Right in front of us, on the runway, stood a fighter jet—F35. Not just any F35. Something the kids Gojo brought with him had tampered with, using some weird power.

At first, I thought it was a joke. But during test flights, it showed performance so far off the rails it was unreal.

"Shimizu, I’m boarding the ground forces’ unit and the transport plane. You’re going in ahead of us—stay sharp."

"Yeah, I know."

"Show me that ace pilot skill you’ve got."

"Hey, don’t get your hopes up. But… I’ll give it a shot."

Shimizu said that, climbed into the F35, and waited for the takeoff order. He had to rendezvous with the F35 squadrons coming from Bai Li and Sen Toshi along the route.

I boarded the transport plane too, waiting for the moment.

Right away, orders came from command. First, Shimizu’s fighter squadron took off. Then, our transport plane followed, close behind.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

【Switzerland, Geneva】

The joint strategic headquarters of the UN and the European Parliament, where satellite data and military intel from various nations were compiled and shared with UN member states and media outlets.

"China’s air force casualty rate has surpassed fifty percent. Russia’s is over forty. If this keeps up, we’ll lose key forces before reinforcements arrive."

"Can we expect help from neighboring countries?"

"Most are prioritizing their own defense. Honestly… can’t really blame them."

Here in Geneva, the staff consisted of UN officials, European Parliament members, and UN military personnel. They were arguing fiercely, but one thing was clear—things were going downhill fast.

Then—

"Air contact approaching rapidly. Around one hundred aircraft in formation."

"Should be on our side. Which country is it?"

"This identification code... it's Japan, Self-Defense Force aircraft!"

"Japan?"

Hearing the word, most people froze. It wasn’t just that the response had come far sooner than expected—it was that Japan was widely known for avoiding overseas deployments and shying away from military force, especially overseas.

"Regardless, sending a formation of about a hundred aircraft straight into this battlefield is reckless. We should pull them back, regroup with the other forces first."

"That's... they're going straight for the center of the battlefield."

"What!?"

"They're entering the enemy flagship's firing range!"

Given how many allied units had already been shot down by the enemy’s powerful weaponry, everyone assumed the Self-Defense Force aircraft would be destroyed too.

But on the Chinese military’s radar, enemy aircraft formations ahead of the Self-Defense Force kept vanishing one after another.

No one on the ground could figure out what was happening.

"Video feed coming through."

A large screen monitor in the command center flickered to life, showing footage sent from the Chinese forces. Everyone stared, stunned.

The aircraft the Self-Defense Force was using looked like a standard F35. But it was deflecting enemy attacks with a shimmering light barrier, and returning fire not with bullets—but beams resembling lasers.

Those beams pierced through enemy shields, destroying enemy fighters in one hit. They pierced through the black flagship’s defensive barriers, punched through warship armor, and triggered massive explosions.

The black flagship, belching thick smoke, began plummeting toward the ground.

"What the hell was that... completely different from the 'Prometheus' models. How the hell did Japan even build something like that!?"

People in front of the monitor could only stand there, dazed, watching the enemy forces disintegrate before their eyes.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

"Each unit, lock on individually—destroy each one!"

"Understood!"

Ten F35s following me scattered, systematically taking down enemy fighters.

"Man... the firepower's insane..."

This plane, the F35-mod "Amaterasu," runs on solar stone. Can fly nonstop for seventy-two hours—unbelievable.

Not just maneuverability. Charge the energy, and it punches holes through enemy aircraft like a laser.

Something science can't even dream of making today.

That kid Noah, and those little twins—just looked at the fighter blueprints and whipped up the parts like it was nothing.

"Enemy aircraft, twenty, ten o’clock!"

"Engage with medium-range air-to-air missiles—"

All the planes scattered around me locked onto targets, including my own.

"Launch!"

Missiles fired in unison, homing in on the enemy.

Orihalcon warheads shattered through the enemy’s "magic barriers" effortlessly, detonating midair—flaming wreckage spiraling down.

"Got it!"

Our air force could actually hit back. Now...

Just as intel said, four massive warships had landed on the ground, positioned like a guard around a central point—something was being built there.

Can’t let that happen.

"Third Flight Group! Follow me—attack the ground facility!!"

"Understood!"

Thirteen aircraft, including me, plunged into the range of the four warships. Enemy warships responded with a rain of coordinated fire.

Their main weapon’s clearly lasers.

But the powerful magic barrier of "Amaterasu" is deflecting every attack. Breaking through the warship defense line, I spot a black structure in the center of the flatland.

Don’t know what it is, but it’s definitely something nasty.

"All units, charge up!"

I can feel the solar stone energy building up through the cockpit instruments. Feels like the same effect as Gojo’s "magic."

Should break through even the enemy’s magic barrier. Count on it.

"Fire!!"

Thirteen lasers shoot straight toward the structure. But—

"What?!?"

The lasers bounce off just short of the building and explode. Looks like a stronger-than-warship-level magic barrier’s been erected.

"Can’t do it…?"

Breaking it from the air’s gonna be tough.

"Fine. Leave the ground to Sakamichi’s team. We’re focusing on air combat. Move out!"

"Sir!"

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

[United Nations Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland]

"Aerial combat involving India, Pakistan, and South Korea has begun. Prometheus is arriving shortly. The battle’s turning into a stalemate."

"The real problem’s on the ground…"

"All units approaching the mysterious structure have been wiped out."

"Ground defenses are tighter than air…? What the hell is over there?"

"Reports mention something resembling a monster."

It was obvious the ground structure was dangerous—but we were stuck, doing nothing. Then—

"Signal from Chinese forces. Also from European units—"

"What?!?"

"Both transport aircraft are entering the combat zone shortly. Carrying the 'Suzaku' and the 'Sanctuary Knights'!"