’A gift...’ Michael was the kind of man who preferred to support those he cared about rather than depend on their help... Still, he appreciated her gesture.
"Thank you." He said before climbing aboard. Fortunately, although each cha had its own unique features, they were controlled in much the sa way, allowing him to quickly get the hang of it.
Making haste, the other Lords boarded their tal suits, entering the outer cosmos. As for Nicole, she found that even the most efficient chs were unable to properly utilize her stores of spiritual energy, so she didn’t pilot one.
Upon the warship’s roof, the soldiers swiftly moved towards their assigned Lords. Michael reunited with his team.
Amidst the vast field of asteroids drifting through outer space, a colossal portal, several tis larger than the last one, suddenly appeared. From it erged fifty battleships, with one at the center, rivaling humanity’s warship in size.
’The prediction turned out to be true. Fifty Overlords and a Monarch.’ Michael analyzed, his eyes focusing further.
Instantly, he realized these ships were unlike the ones from before. The challengers weren’t the Etrox this ti, but the Hreh’tar, the alien race differentiated by the tentacles sprouting from their bodies.
That revelation was sowhat reassuring, as the Hreh’tar’s thod of reproduction, laying their offspring in corpses, wasn’t as effective in the vacuum of space during battles.
Just as he finished his observation, Claire’s voice echoed across the comm channels.
"Visual confirmation. I assu that we aren’t going to be charging in blindly like last ti?"
While the crew had unwavering trust in Michael, they knew that so many aliens couldn’t be taken lightly.
"No, this ti we will stay in formation."
Michael said, transmitting a simulation towards the crew’s chas.
"Right now, the biggest threat is the Monarch tier alien. Our goal is to cut off the head of the snake."
As he spoke, the human troops in the simulation moved, arranging themselves into a funnel formation.
"Assuming funnel formation, we’ll penetrate the alien forces. Nicole will be positioned at the frontal center, tasked with taking down their leader. Our responsibility is to prevent the Overlords from interfering in that fight. Once Nicole completes her mission, she’ll turn her attention to the Overlords, picking them off one by one."
He paused briefly.
"Expect things to get chaotic. Nicole has made sure that each Lord will handle one Overlord at the very least and two at most. But that still leaves more than half of their forces unaccounted for."
A frown spread over Victoria’s face.
"aning, many would be forced to fight beyond their abilities... and will likely die in the process."
Sadly, there was no perfect plan, and given humanity’s limited resources, this was the best they could co up with.
Several seconds of grim silence lingered before Michael spoke again.
"Because I want to prevent as many casualties as possible, I suggest we split off like before. However, keep in mind you would have to hold the Overlords for longer without any external help. Are there any objections?"
There were no objections. They had all grown stronger, and this front was their opportunity to show it.
"Good." A faint smile spread across Michael’s face.
The crew quickly assud their positions, Nicole standing at the front, radiating an aura of unquestionable authority.
Grand speeches were unnecessary. More battles were going to follow, and everybody knew their role well enough.
"..."
The heavy silence that hung in the air was instantly broken by Nicole’s voice.
"Glory to mankind!"
Like a bullet, she shot forward with staggering speed, the troops behind her following suit.
Instantly, they assud the formation of a drawn arrow, with Nicole at the tip. The formation widened the further back it extended.
BOOM!
Providing support, the colossal human warship powered up its cannons, unleashing a relentless rain of shells aid at slowing down a few of the enemy battleships.
Swoosh!
The Hreh’tar quickly grasped their strategy, moving in unison to close the gap and prevent the human forces from advancing.
But it beca imdiately apparent that there was no stopping Nicole. The first battleship that tried to intercept her was torn apart, along with the Overlord aboard. In that mont, the forty-nine remaining Overlords understood that stopping her wasn’t an option. So, they turned their focus to the forces behind her.
"Here they co!" Bryce’s voice echoed across the communication channel, alerting the crew.
For a mont, Michael’s cha glanced back.
"Bring them hell."
A second later, the form of his tal suit blurred as he charged towards the first battleship, which had entered his field of vision.
Since this was Ruby’s first ti piloting a cha, she trailed behind him, both to ensure their own respective safety and to learn the most effective way to fight using the machines.
In response to their arrival, the cannons of the alien ship focused on Michael’s figure.
Taking a deep breath, his eyes narrowed to the size of needles. With Perfect Senses, he was able to more accurately calculate the trajectory of the projectiles.
The whole ship lit up as nurous shells were fired, yet Michael remained unfazed. Moving with unnatural fluidity, he effortlessly dodged the shells. Ruby, trailing behind him, masterfully evaded them as well.
"This cha... it’s incredible." Michael muttered, charging in full speed. As it turned out, Nicole’s gift really was perfect for his battle style.
Before the alien ship could launch its shuttles to intercept him, Michael landed on the roof, his eyes blazing crimson, settling on the silhouette that awaited.
Three tis taller than the average man, with six limbs: four arms and two legs. Three gaping eyes were positioned on its head as nurous tentacles spread from its massive back and the lower part of its jaw. It was unmistakably an Overlord of the Hreh’tar race.
"Only two humans have co to challenge ? Pathetic!" The alien bellowed in a grueso voice, cracks spreading across the hull of its ship as it pounced straight for Michael.
anwhile, he t the being’s charge with a large smile on his face.
"Last ti I managed to put down two of you..."
He chuckled nacingly.
"I wonder by how much I’m going to beat my record..."
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