I Can No Longer Return

"Hawaii Military Region, this is the Sky Breaker Squad from the Z Nation Eastern Theater Command Air Force Command. We are here to provide support at the invitation of General Jonathan of PPDC Headquarters. Please mark us as a friendly unit."

"Understood, thank you for your support!"

Dalian Shatterdome Base Command Center.

"Commander Mao, this is Colonel Li Yunxiao, commander of the Sky Breaker Squad. We have a total of twenty-two fighter jets and have reached the designated target location."

"Good, Colonel Li Yunxiao, please monitor the sea surface closely and await orders!"

Mao Shucheng put down the walkie-talkie and looked at Jin Rong.

"According to the seabed sonar reaction map shared by PPDC Headquarters, the Kaiju's shape is abstract, approximately one hundred meters tall, and estimated to weigh around three thousand seven hundred tons."

"It's a Category 3 Kaiju!"

"Use the seabed sonar to lure it out! Otherwise, it will be difficult to deal with once it moves out of the detection range of the massive underwater life energy detection system near the wormhole."

"Yes, initiating 156 seabed ultrasonic sonar!"

"How much longer until 'Taishan' can be deployed to the target area?"

"Reporting, Commander, the heavy-lift helicopter group is expected to arrive on the battlefield in another half hour!"

Mao Shucheng took a deep breath, his expression grave.

"Sky Breaker Squad, we are about to activate the seabed ultrasonic sonar to provoke the Kaiju to surface. I don't want to hide anything from you; 'Taishan' will take another half hour to reach the battlefield."

"Commander, the Sky Breaker Squad will go all out to stop the Kaiju, fighting to the last man, and will not retreat!"

"The more than one million civilians behind you, including nearly seventy thousand of our compatriots, are relying on you. Please, you must intercept it outside the coastline!"

"Yes!"

"Commander, the seabed ultrasonic sonar has been activated, and the Kaiju's size signature is rapidly surfacing!"

"Sky Breaker Squad, the Kaiju is about to surface, be on alert!"

Mao Shucheng gripped the walkie-talkie tightly.

At this moment, the Sky Breaker Squad was the only hope to hold the Kaiju back.

The holographic projection with General Jonathan from PPDC Headquarters had ended.

This was no longer about observing the battlefield from command; it was about fighting side-by-side.

PPDC Headquarters had directly bypassed protocol and assigned command of the Hawaii combat zone to Z Nation's Jaeger Combat Department.

The situation was urgent. With 'Wanderer' engaged with 'Stegosaurus' on the west coast and 'Explorer' unable to activate, they had no choice but to request aid.

The best way to deal with a Kaiju was to fight fire with fire using Jaegers. If they prioritized pride over lives and caused greater casualties, even the capitalists wouldn't stand for it.

The military of Nation M had also, uncharacteristically, tacitly accepted this fact, only instructing the Hawaii Military Region to do its best to evacuate the civilians.

This was no time for temper tantrums.

If the "they" behind the Kaiju saw humanity's fatigue, if they saw humanity's current weakness, then humanity would face its final slaughter.

The previously calm sea was now churning violently. If this were the Middle Ages, people would be kneeling and shouting, "The Sea God has arrived! Long live the Sea God!"

But now, the one about to appear was the "evil god" bringing destruction to the world!

The culprit behind the surprise attack on the Hawaiian Islands finally revealed its true form.

It stood nearly a hundred meters tall, slightly shorter than 'Bladehead' and 'Stegosaurus'.

But its physique was extremely robust, with limbs as thick as a gorilla's.

Its head resembled a turtle's, with its jaws forming a V-shaped indentation.

After emerging from the water, the "Ape" seemed enraged, roaring ceaselessly at the sky.

"Attack!"

Colonel Li Yunxiao issued the command. Only by drawing its attention could they delay its advance towards the Hawaiian Islands.

The Sky Breaker Squad attacked in a dispersed, alternating pattern, their 25mm cannons unleashing a barrage on the "Ape."

While such attacks wouldn't inflict significant damage on the "Ape," they undoubtedly enraged it further.

The "Ape" thrashed about, but lacking 'Stegosaurus's' effective long-range anti-air capabilities, it could only rage impotently.

However, its movements were surprisingly agile, lacking the clumsiness and slowness of 'Stegosaurus'.

"Designate it 'Mad Ape,' tentatively classify it as a balanced Kaiju, and upload it to the PPDC archives."

"Yes, Commander."

Mao Shucheng's face was grim. Balanced Kaiju were more troublesome than defensive or agile types.

Although they had managed to provoke the 'Mad Ape,' the Sky Breaker Squad was powerless against it.

The 25mm cannons, capable of effectively striking armored vehicles, were merely tickling the Kaiju's terrifying defenses.

Even facing a balanced Kaiju was proving to be a formidable challenge.

"Attack with medium-range air-to-air missiles!"

Each fighter jet was equipped with two of the highest damage missiles, similar in nature to the F-40's Sidewinder missiles.

"The 'Mad Ape' is showing abnormal electromagnetic wave readings, automatic targeting is impossible!"

Colonel Li Yunxiao frowned slightly upon hearing the unanimous replies from his team members.

"Close the distance and aim visually!"

The fighter jets surged forward, but as they approached the 'Mad Ape,' its entire body erupted with blue pulsating light, concentrating at the ridge of its back.

"Bad, retreat!"

Seeing the 'Mad Ape' preparing a major attack, Li Yunxiao sensed something was wrong and urgently ordered a retreat.

But it was too late.

The 'Mad Ape's' back flashed with blue light, which instantly spread out in a radius around it.

"No, we're being hit by electromagnetic interference, all aircraft systems have failed!"

"We're going to crash!"

Upon hearing the static on the Sky Breaker Squad's comm channel, Mao Shucheng quickly realized something was wrong.

On the screen, the fighter jets were falling like they had lost their power systems.

Several fighter jets collided and crashed on the same flight path.

"What's happening?"

"Commander, the blue light emitted by the 'Mad Ape' was likely a method of electromagnetic interference. All fighter jets have malfunctioned!"

"Bang!"

Mao Shucheng slammed his fist on the table.

Li Yunxiao looked at his comrades' fighter jets crashing around him, his eyes reddening, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to let tears fall.

The fighter jets had malfunctioned, and the emergency ejection system was also faulty, making manual operation impossible.

Seeing his own fighter jet getting closer and closer to the sea's surface, he wiped the flight recorder hanging above his head. Beside it was a photo of a mother and daughter hugging each other, smiling and giving a peace sign at the camera.

"Fighter jet serial number 81192, I can no longer return to base, but I do not regret coming here to complete my mission. I only regret that I could not intercept the 'Mad Ape'."

"Also, please tell my wife and daughter not to grieve for me. It is the highest honor for a soldier to die on the battlefield."

"Shuyi, forgive me for not being able to grow old with you. Xiao Ling, it's a pity that Dad won't be able to personally hand your hand to another man who loves you at your wedding, but I wish you both happiness!"

Immediately after, the voice cut off. One by one, fighter jets crashed into the sea, twenty-two heroic souls buried here.

The Sky Breaker Squad, all fallen.